Corn, Soybean Conditions Improve
Published: Friday, August 19, 2022
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 14.
Several welcomed rain events improved crop conditions across the state. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
Despite the additional precipitation, the latest U.S. Drought Monitor continued to report Menominee County and the Central Lower Peninsula as abnormally dry and counties in East Central Michigan and the Thumb Region as in moderate drought.
Cover crop planting was in full swing in harvested winter wheat fields. Oat and barley harvest progress advanced and crop conditions improved after rain events.
Corn and soybeans development progressed ahead of the average pace, while crop conditions improved from the previous week.
Weather in the Southeast allowed the progression of baling alfalfa and other hay. Mild disease and pest activity.
Other activities during the week included spraying pesticides, spreading manure and baling straw.
Fruit
The week began warm and humid and after a series of rains and thunderstorms early in the week the weather turned cooler and the humidity fell. Nearly all major fruit growing areas received needed precipitation.
Cherry leaf spot infection on untreated or undertreated blocks was rampant. Spotted wing drosophila populations increased again.
Tart cherry harvest was complete in the West Central and continued in the Northwest, though many growers had finished harvest there as well. Some growers in the Northwest had to leave fruit on trees because of lack of demand or capacity at processors.
Growers began to make preparations for processing peach harvest in the West Central. That was anticipated to begin in a few weeks. Red haven peach harvest began in the Southwest. Peach harvest in the Northwest continued; fruit quality was excellent.
Apples, spurred by rains early in the week, continued to size well. Early apple variety harvest on varieties like Zestar and Ginger Gold was anticipated to begin in the West Central in a few weeks. Pristine was harvested in the Southwest.
Mid-season blueberry variety harvest in the Southwest was winding down. Duke and Bluecrop harvest in Allegan and Van Buren counties were nearly complete; the remaining Bluecrop will be mechanically harvested for processing.
Vegetables
Wet and humid weather created ideal conditions for disease development on vegetable crops across the state. Downy mildew was confirmed in cucumbers in additional counties throughout Michigan, and fruit rot was detected on tomatoes.
Vegetable producers used fungicides extensively to protect their crops. Watermelons were starting to hit the market, and zucchini harvest was underway.
Meanwhile, squash was beginning to develop fruit, and pumpkins were coloring in the West Central region.
Also in the West Central region, early varieties of onions were being harvested, with the crop in healthy condition.
Due to recent precipitation, the forecast for potato late blight was at high risk for parts of southern and central Michigan, but no late blight had been reported in the state to date.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 7 percent; short, 31 percent; adequate, 58 percent; surplus, 4 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 9 percent; short, 35 percent; adequate, 54 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2021 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 97, 91, 100, 91; corn dough, 55, 38, 56, 44; corn dented, 11, 1, 4, 5; soybeans blooming, 98, 94, 99, 92; soybeans setting pods, 83, 70, 91, 73; winter wheat harvested, 96, 93, 99, 97; barley mature, 67, 52, 83, N/A; barley harvested, 27, 13, 27, N/A; dry edible beans blooming, 92, 89, N/A, N/A; dry edible beans setting pods, 65, 36, 91, 64; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 94, 89, 95, 87; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 43, 26, 60, 40; other hay, second cutting, 87, 75, 93, 74; other hay, third cutting, 29, 18, 26, N/A; oats mature, 79, 63, 94, N/A; oats harvested, 50, 29, 61, 54.
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