Only Half-Day Suitable for Fieldwork
Published: Friday, April 15, 2022
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 10.
Persistent wet conditions continued to prevent fieldwork across most of the state. There were .5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Winter wheat condition declined slightly as precipitation continued to cause accumulation of standing water.
Maple syrup producers were pulling taps and preparing for their last boil of the season.
Less than 1 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought conditions, with the driest areas being the southern counties of the Upper Peninsula and Isle Royale in Lake Superior.
Other activities included paperwork, tending to livestock and preparation for planting.
Fruit
Despite cold conditions last week, early fruit development continued.
Peach fruit buds were swelling in the South. Growers were actively applying early season sprays to prevent peach leaf curl.
Tart cherry fruit buds in the South were swelling and growers applied sprays to prevent bacterial canker.
Early apple varieties like Zestar, McIntosh and Jonathan were showing green tissue in the South. Scab sprays were necessary as fungal ascospores were being released in the cold rains last week.
On the Ridge, early varieties like Idared and Ginger Gold were in silver tip. In the West Central and North, most apple varieties remained dormant.
Blueberry flower buds were swollen with some separation in early varieties in the South.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 1 percent; adequate, 41 percent; surplus, 58 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 2 percent; adequate, 49 percent; surplus, 49 percent.
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