The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 14.
The hot, dry weather continued to hamper crop development. A storm system moved through the state late in the week, which brought scattered showers to many areas; however, those who missed the rain continued to see deteriorating crop conditions.
Much of the corn still showed moisture stress and the rain may have been too little too late to aid the crop during pollination.
A few dry beans started to turn color and some insect pressure was reported.
The much-needed rain promoted growth in both soybeans and sugarbeets, although soybeans continued to set and fill pods slowly.
Oat harvest neared completion. Hay harvest continued, but many accounts indicated a lack of growth for the second cutting due to dryness.
There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Fruit
Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) trap catches continued to increase in small fruits; experts noted that overripe fruit and adverse weather conditions were causing SWD control failures and a rise of fruit infestations in blueberries and raspberries.
Blueberry harvested continued; fruit was ripening quickly with recent hot weather and growers were complaining of soft fruit. Tart cherry harvest was nearly complete, with most growers in the northwest having finished last week.
Summer raspberries were near the end of the harvest season in the west central region while harvest of fall red raspberries and blackberries continued.
Peach harvest continued with PF Lucky 13, Redhaven, Starfire and Newhaven; smaller fruit size was common in areas where drought conditions have prevailed.
Harvest of Japanese plums continued while European plums were coloring. Harvest of summer apple varieties was ongoing in the east, while fall varieties of apples continued to size and show early hints of color.
Pear fruit ranged from 2 to 2.25 inches in diameter. European varieties of grapes were at berry touch while veraison started in early ripening varieties of grapes; some vineyards on well-drained soils were experiencing drought stress.
Vegetables
In eastern Michigan, sweet corn, cabbage and cucumber harvest continued. Potato harvest in the southwest began as above average temperatures have allowed for timely crop maturity.
Carrots in the western region were making significant progress despite fairly high disease pressure.
Across most of the state warm, humid conditions continued to be conducive for foliar disease pressure. Growers are encouraged to continue scouting efforts early and often.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2015 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 94, 91, 99, 97; corn doughed, 48, 25, 50, 45; corn dented, 1, 0, 1, 5; soybeans blooming, 93, 89, 99, 97; soybeans setting pods, 75, 60, 83, 79; dry beans blooming, 88, 84, 92, 95; dry beans setting pods, 74, 40, 60, 73; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 91, 86, 86, NA; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 32, 18, 37, NA; other hay, second cutting, 75, 69, 75, NA; other hay, third cutting, 17, 10, 9, NA; oats mature, 91, 85, 97, NA; oats harvested, 53, 34, 52, 63.