Mich. Crop Conditions Hold Steady
Published: Friday, August 13, 2021
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 8.
Hot and humid weather was experienced across most of the state as growing conditions remained generally strong. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.
Drought conditions decreased yet again, with less than 4 percent of the state now reported in moderate to severe drought. The driest areas continue to be the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula and the counties surrounding Saginaw Bay in the eastern central Lower Peninsula.
Corn condition held firm with 79 percent of the crop currently rated in good to excellent condition. Over 40 percent of the crop has reached the dough stage as grain fill continued to trend well ahead of schedule.
Soybean condition held steady with 72 percent of the crop rated good to excellent. Suitable conditions continued to contribute to rapid setting of pods. A reported 84 percent of the crop was entering this stage.
Dry bean condition improved significantly with 46 percent of the crop rated good to excellent.
Winter wheat harvest neared completion with a reported 96 percent of the crop threshed thus far.
Hay producers worked towards completion of second cuttings as conditions allowed. Third cuttings were in full swing as progress advanced well ahead of schedule.
Other activities included crop scouting, hay hauling and mid-season equipment maintenance.
Fruit
Summer fruit harvest continued. Redhaven peach harvest was anticipated to begin soon in southern Michigan. Earlier variety harvest continued.
Apples continued to size well and were beginning to color. Bluecrop blueberry harvest in the Southwest was winding down. Fruit size and firmness was excellent. Yields have generally been very good.
Growers applied supplemental irrigation last week. Some blueberry growers reported difficulty finding labor for hand harvest.
Vegetables
Producers throughout the state continued to apply fungicides and insecticides where necessary in response to continued disease and pest presence. Among the affected crops were asparagus, celery and carrots.
Additionally, there were reports of downy mildew in cucumbers, powdery mildew in hard squash and Phytophthora in zucchini.
Onion harvest was ramping up while pumpkins were beginning to color on some farms. Eggplants and bell peppers were hitting the markets, and hot peppers were ripening to full color.
Harvest of new potatoes was ongoing with the forecast for late blight set at medium risk for most of the state. No late blight had been reported in Michigan to date.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 22 percent; adequate, 72 percent; surplus, 5 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 24 percent; adequate, 71 percent; surplus, 4 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 97, 91, 94, 83; corn dough, 41, 19, 34, 25; soybeans blooming, 96, 92, 94, 85; soybeans setting pods, 84, 71, 78, 58; winter wheat harvested, 96, 93, 97, 94; barley headed, 100, 95, 95, NA; barley mature, 79, 41, 61, NA; barley harvested, 24, 5, 26, NA; dry beans blooming, 100, 95, 98, 78; dry beans setting pods, 78, 55, 49, 38; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 92, 83, 92, 82; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 47, 23, 36, 24; other hay, second cutting, 89, 71, 72, 63; other hay, third cutting, 15, 7, 10, NA; oats mature, 90, 76, 94, NA; oats harvested, 51, 36, 38, 35.
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