Seed Corn Harvest Gets Underway
Published: Friday, September 17, 2021
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 12.
The state experienced multiple rainfall events as cooler temperatures continued to prevail. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Seed corn harvest continued in the southwest, as silage corn was being chopped in southern and eastern counties.
Dry bean harvest continued as weather allowed.
Wheat planting progressed slightly ahead of schedule, despite delays due to drier soils in some areas.
Hay cuttings continued to progress ahead of schedule as the forage season moves towards completion.
Soybean progress remained significantly ahead of the five-year average, as 51 percent were dropping leaves.
Other activities included summer tillage, scouting for pests and preparing equipment for harvest.
Fruit
Oriental fruit moth trap catches increased last week and Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) numbers remained high. Bucks rubbing the velvet off their antlers caused some damage in young orchards.
Late-season peach varieties like PF 27A, Encore, FS28-007 and Autumnstar were harvested in the Southwest.
Apple harvest continued with Gala harvested in the Southwest.
Blueberry harvest ended in the Southwest and neared completion in the West Central.
Vegetables
Throughout the state, producers welcomed cooler temperatures as they continued to harvest their vegetable crops. Some vegetable field damage was assessed following a storm system that moved through the area mid-week.
With the harvest of most vegetables underway or wrapping up, pest presence was slowing down.
Pumpkin and squash seasons were starting to wind down and produce for both vegetables was hitting the market.
In the East, harvest of peppers, eggplants and carrots was proceeding smoothly. Supply of zucchini remained steady.
Most of the state was at medium risk for late blight, with no Michigan cases of late blight having been reported for either potatoes or tomatoes to date.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 9 percent; short, 29 percent; adequate, 60 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 6 percent; short, 39 percent; adequate, 54 percent; surplus, 1 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn dough, 96, 94, 95, 88; corn dented, 70, 61, 76, 63; corn mature, 24, 5, 18, 13; corn harvested for silage, 31, 14, 49, 25; soybeans dropping leaves, 51, 22, 34, 24; winter wheat planted, 4, 0, 3, 2; barley harvested, 82, 77, 87, N/A; dry beans dropping leaves, 89, 80, 64, 51; dry beans harvested, 6, 1, N/A, N/A; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 86, 83, 84, 70; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 35, 18, 26, N/A; other hay, third cutting, 73, 58, 46, 43; other hay, fourth cutting, 7, 1, 5, N/A; oats harvested, 95, 90, N/A, N/A; sugarbeets harvested, 12, 3, 16, 10.
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