Warm fall speeds up harvest for southwest Michigan crops

By Andi Anderson

In Southwest Michigan, an unusually warm and dry fall season is advancing the harvest of key crops like corn and soybeans. With recent temperatures near 80 degrees Fahrenheit in Kalamazoo, the region's crops are seeing mixed impacts.

While higher temperatures have kept the ground dry, aiding in the early harvest, some crops face limitations due to the lack of moisture.

According to Nicole Ritchie, a Michigan State University (MSU) Extension field crop educator, the warm fall has placed the harvest schedule ahead.

“Since it’s been pretty dry, we haven’t had too many cycles of the grain getting wet and then drying out, which should help with quality,” she explained. Drier conditions have helped crops like corn avoid additional drying costs and maintain quality as they are harvested.

The effects of the warm weather are also seen in fruits. MSU Extension Small Fruit Educator Cheyenne Sloan noted that grape and strawberry crops had a successful season.

Sloan mentioned that the weather has been consistently warm, sparing plants from the unpredictable changes that can sometimes confuse growth cycles.

Despite the favorable conditions for some crops, other produce, like pumpkins, has been affected. At a local farm near Schoolcraft, crops such as pumpkins and late-season corn did not reach their usual sizes due to the dry conditions.

The pumpkins ended up smaller, and corn was cut short in its development due to the limited rainfall.

Looking ahead, MSU Extension experts advise that a stable, snowy winter would benefit crops like cherries and winter wheat, which rely on cold weather for optimal growth.

Garlic, which can be planted in the fall, is also expected to withstand potential winter fluctuations.

This warm fall, while beneficial for some crops, shows how essential weather patterns are to the growth and quality of a wide range of agricultural products in Southwest Michigan. Farmers continue to adapt, and a balanced winter could support the health of next season’s crops.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-imagixian