Soggy Conditions Allow for Just 2 Days of Fieldwork
Published: Friday, June 21, 2019
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending June 16.
The unfavorable conditions that have challenged Michigan farmers maintained its lock on the state for another week. There were just 1.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan.
The percent of corn planted advanced not by planters, but the decision of many farmers to opt for prevented plantings. Most regions across the state experienced cool temperatures and high amounts of precipitation.
Field conditions were prohibitive, with oversaturated and cool soil. Most of the remaining uncertainty around the planting of corn is related to intentions for silage and livestock feed.
Spotters noticed that some corn fields were starting to turn yellow as a result of the excessive soil moisture, and emergence has been uneven due to the cool temperatures. The slow accumulation of growing degree days is also a concern.
Soybean progress continued to be well below the five-year planting average, with a great deal of uncertainty for that crop as well.
Sugarbeets continued to emerge in the Thumb, and crop conditions were reported to be good overall.
Hay fields continued to be too wet for much baling to occur, and some farmers expressed concerns of mold and dust in the few fields that were cut.
Conditions have made it challenging to keep weed and disease pressure in wheat in check.
Pasture conditions were reported to be looking good, but declined due to excess moisture.
Other activities included herbicide and fungicide applications where the weather permitted.
Vegetables
Early planted potatoes in the Southwest were making good progress. Hops in the area were showing strong growth with reports of bines climbing up to 10 feet in some yards.
Sweet corn and cucumber planting was delayed in the Eastern region. Cabbage and pepper planting was ongoing in the Southeast as weather allowed.
Fruit
Wet weather continued to provide challenges to fruit growers looking to apply cover sprays. Cooler than normal weather this season has fruit behind normal phenological development.
Apples on the Ridge were mostly in petal fall. In the northwest, as in the much of the state, there was a variable bloom. Honeycrisp set appeared to be light. Apples were sizing rapidly in the West Central and were 6-10 mm in most areas. Honeycrisp set there also appears less than optimal.
In the Southwest, fruit were growing rapidly, with most varieties between 22 to 28 mm. Apples in the East were between 20 and 28 mm and fruit drop occurred. Most growers had a good fruit set.
Peaches on the Ridge were in shuck. In the West Central, peaches were out of shuck and their appeared to be a very good crop.
Tart cherries on the Ridge were in shuck. In the Northwest, tart cherries were around 9 mm. In the West Central, the crop appeared to be highly variable and set in some blocks was not good. In the Southwest, pit hardening concluded. Fruit were around 11 mm.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 1 percent; adequate, 33 percent; surplus, 66 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 1 percent; adequate, 38 percent; surplus, 61 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2018 and 5-year average) showed: corn, planted 84, 63, 92, 98; corn, emerged 48, 33, 86, 93; soybeans, planted 53, 45, 85, 94; soybeans, emerged 34, 23, 75, 84; dry beans, planted 17, 4, 58, 68; winter wheat, jointing 94, 88, 92, 98; winter wheat, headed 64, 35, 84, 90; barley, planted 74, 58, 84, NA; barley, emerged 51, 29, 64, NA; alfalfa hay, first cutting 30, 20, 63, 64; other hay, first cutting 14, 6, 42, 44; oats, planted 93, 89, 96, 97; oats, emerged 78, 70, 85, 91; oats, headed 10, 2, 20, 27; sugarbeets, emerged 86, 77, 100, 99.
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