Michigan Farmers Battle Weather
Published: Friday, November 16, 2018
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Nov. 11.
Most regions across the state experienced cold temperatures and high levels of precipitation.
Some counties in the Upper Peninsula reported receiving up to 8 inches of snow. The wet weather resulted in oversaturated fields and harvest delays in most areas across the state.
In areas that were dry enough, the corn harvest continued. The moisture content of the grain harvested was 20 percent.
The soybean harvest nearly slowed to a complete stop due to excessive soil moisture. The estimated moisture content of the grain harvested was 16 percent.
The delays in the soybean harvest have resulted in many winter wheat fields not being planted yet, and the cold weather has caused emergence issues in certain fields.
There were 2.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Most cattle are expected to receive supplemental feed for the rest of the year, as pastures have gone dormant.
Other activities included the planting of cover crops where weather permitted.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2017 and 5-year average) showed: corn harvested for grain, 67, 57, 67, 65; soybeans harvested, 79, 74, 87, 89; winter wheat planted, 92, 89, 99, 98; winter wheat emerged, 71, 61, 92, 88; sugarbeets harvested, 87, 74, 82, 86.
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