Dry, Warm Weather Helps Some Crops, Hurts Others
Published: Friday, August 2, 2019
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending July 28.
Dry and warm conditions prevailed across much of the state for a second straight week. While in some areas crops responded well to the heat, some producers expressed concern that soils were beginning to dry out.
Late-planted corn was beginning to catch up to normal progress, but soybeans with shorter root systems were struggling.
In the Upper Peninsula, small grain crops including barley and oats were looking good, but less mature than it should be for this time of the year.
Winter wheat harvest continued at a fast pace; in central counties, yields were reported to be better than expected but still below average.
Conditions were ideal for making hay, with many producers reporting finishing up first cut and making good progress on second cut. Field tillage on idle cropland continued as a weed deterrent.
Other activities included seeding cover crops and applying nitrogen to idle fields.
There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork.
Vegetables
Cole crop, cucumber and pea harvest continued in the Eastern region. Sweet corn and tomatoes were being harvested in the Southwest.
Carrots in the West Central region continued to make good progress although disease pressure was reportedly increasing.
Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) has not been detected in Michigan to date. Weather has been favorable for disease development in most major growing areas. Growers are advised to be vigilant in scouting efforts as the season progresses.
Fruit
More normal summer weather patterns continued last week. Tree and fruit damage from the previous week's storms was minimal and, if present, very localized. The precipitation associated with these storms was welcomed.
Warmer temperatures have meant an increase in insect pressure, with Spotted wing drosophila trap catch numbers taking a huge jump; growers applied insecticides to protect against this pest.
Apples in the East were mostly between 2 and 2.5 inches; hand thinning continued. In the Southwest, early season varieties like Lodi and Transparent were spot picked.
Peaches in the East were 1.75 to 2.25 inches and sizing well. In the Southwest, early season peach harvest began; Harrow Diamond, Earlystar, and Veeblush were harvested in blocks that had fruit.
Tart cherry harvest in the Southwest ended while harvest began in earnest over the weekend in the Northwest. Cherry trees were in rough shape with cherry leaf spot and bacterial canker taking their toll.
Blueberry harvest in the Southwest continued. Growers harvested Bluecrop and Jersey.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 8 percent; short, 43 percent; adequate, 42 percent; surplus, 7 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 4 percent; short, 29 percent; adequate, 59 percent; surplus, 8 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2018 and 5-year average) showed: corn, silking 20, 5, 65, 65; soybeans, blooming 42, 23, 72, 76; soybeans, setting pods 15, NA, 35, 35; winter wheat, mature 86, 70, 100, 97; winter wheat, harvested 45, 14, 85, 78; barley, headed 77, 44, 96, NA; barley, mature 11, 2, 44, NA; dry edible beans, emerged 90, 84, 100, 100; dry edible beans, blooming 18, 4, 59, 51; alfalfa hay, first cutting 99, 95, 100, 99; alfalfa hay, second cutting 49, 32, 72, 66; other hay, first cutting 89, 81, 95, 91; other hay, second cutting 19, 12, 55, 47; oats, headed 89, 78, 99, 98; oats, mature 27, 10, NA, NA; oats, harvested 1, 0, 16, 9.
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