Michiganders Begin Seed Corn and Dry Bean Harvests

Pleasant and uneventful weather prevailed across the State this week, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending Sunday. The heat and humidity that dominated weather patterns for much of August was abruptly replaced this week by a cooler and drier air mass.

Seed corn harvest was underway in the southwest while silage corn harvest was ramping up in southern and eastern counties. There have been several reports of tar spot showing up in corn fields, causing plants to die prematurely. Some harvesting of dry beans began this week while some producers sprayed to desiccate them ahead of harvest. Wheat planting was expected to start this week as more ground opened up, but drier soils have some producers waiting before planting wheat. Hay cutting continued as conditions allowed, despite the risk of rain. Soybean progress remained ahead of the five-year average as 22 percent were dropping leaves and a number of reporters indicated leaves were turning color.

Other activities included summer tillage, scouting for pests, and preparing equipment for harvest.

Brown marmorated stink bug nymphs and adult numbers increased last week. Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) numbers remained high. Later season peaches like Glowingstar, Cresthaven, and Gloria, were harvested in the Southwest. Apple harvest continued with main season Gala being harvested in the Southwest. Cropload was variable. Gala harvest began 9 days earlier than normal. Honeycrisp harvest was still a few weeks off in the Southern part of the State and a month off in the more northern reaches. In the Northwest, early varieties like Ginger Gold were harvested. Blueberry harvest in the Southwest wound down. Growers were encouraged to irrigate fields to maintain good plant health and to promote flower bud formation at the end of the season.

Producers throughout the State were continuing to wrap up their vegetable season activities, with many starting work on cleaning up their fields and planting fall cover crops. Pumpkins were maturing nicely, and harvest was underway in some areas. Sweet corn fields were being harvested amid continued insect presence. Harvest of carrots and peppers continued throughout Michigan while supply levels of squash and zucchini remained steady. Some areas throughout the State were faced with high risk for late blight, particularly in the West Central region, but no late blight had been reported for potatoes or tomatoes to date.