It was another warm and dry week across the State, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday. Rain events provided some relief to crops along the lakeshore in West Michigan. The Southern portion of the Upper Peninsula and the Northwest and Central Lower Peninsula were reported as abnormally dry by the US Drought Monitor, while several counties in Central Michigan and the Thumb Region were reported as in moderate drought.
Winter wheat harvest was winding down and cover crops were being planted over wheat stubble. Oats for grain ripened and will be ready for full-scale harvest soon. Corn was pollinating with little stress. Soybeans and dry beans were showing stress from insect pressure. Alfalfa and other hay cutting progressed ahead of the average pace, but production was down in some areas due to the dry weather. Some areas were feeding livestock supplemental hay due to some pastures beginning to go dormant. Disease and pest activity picked up. Other activities during the week included spraying pesticides, combining wheat, harvesting hay, and baling straw.
A cooler week was welcomed by fruit growers. Strong storms two weeks ago appeared to have had little negative impact on fruit even though some of the storms had high winds and isolated hail associated with them. Orchards remained in need of additional rain. Japanese beetle populations were very high. Spotted wing Drosophila populations increased. Peach harvest continued. Pink Lady was harvested in the Southwest. Blueberry harvest was in full swing. Early season variety harvest was complete and mid-season varieties were on their second pick. Apples were sizing well across the State. Hand thinning and summer pruning occurred. Gala were 50 mm in Northwest and Honeycrisp were 32 mm. Tart cherry harvest continued in the Northwest. Quality was excellent and fruit has been particularly dark in color this season. Many growers wrapped up harvest with some larger growers anticipated harvest ending the second week of August. Some growers had to contend with daily quotas at the processor which slowed harvesting progress. Cherry leaf spot defoliation was prevalent in untreated or under-treated orchards.
Considerable levels of rainfall throughout much of the State provided welcome relief to vegetable producers. While insects were still moderately active on crops like celery and onions, cooler temperatures reduced their presence substantially. Harvest was proceeding smoothly for a variety of vegetables, including garlic, melons, and sweet corn. Sweet onion harvest was also underway, although some growers were dissatisfied with the small size of their plants. Downy mildew was detected on cucumbers in multiple West Michigan locations, leading growers to employ fungicides to protect their crops. Meanwhile, field tomatoes were sizing up and coloring, with some showing signs of stress due to nutrient deficiencies. Late blight was found in tomatoes in Ontario, but no late blight had been reported in Michigan to date.
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Wheat, Fruits and Vegetables, Harvesting, Weather