Michigan Has Good Weather Week
Published: Friday, September 16, 2022
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 11.
Last week the majority of the state experienced good fieldwork weather. The weekend brought some areas timely rains, helping to ease crop stress.
There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, counties in the Southeast Central Lower Peninsula, were abnormally dry. The Thumb and Bay Region continue to experience the driest conditions with most of the area in moderate drought.
Oat and barley harvests neared completion as dry conditions were ideal for harvest progress.
Dry beans continued to drop leaves at a rapid pace as the crop moved ever closer to full maturity.
Sugarbeet harvest moved along slightly behind the average pace.
Corn was maturing nicely and soybeans continued to drop leaves.
It was another good week for cutting alfalfa and other hay as warm dry weather allowed for haymaking. Pest and disease pressure continued to be fairly low.
Other activities included harvest machinery preparation, hauling manure and planning for winter wheat planting.
Fruit
Apple harvest continued with farmers in the Southwest preparing to begin harvesting standard strains of Honeycrisp and Gala. Harvest was beginning slowly for those varieties, which was giving lots of time for adequate color, flavor and size development.
In the Northwest, early varieties like Gingergold, Zestar and PaulaRed were harvested. Fruit quality was excellent.
In the West Central, early varieties like Premier Honeycrisp, Gingergold and Zestar were harvested. Early strains of Gala were beginning to show signs of maturity there; McIntosh and standard strains of Honeycrisp were still immature.
Vegetables
Vegetable producers throughout Michigan continued their harvest activities, with much of the state experiencing favorable weather conditions.
Harvest of peppers and eggplants proceeded smoothly, while pumpkin harvest was beginning in earnest.
Many vegetables were going to market, among them being cucumbers, squash and zucchini.
Meanwhile, some growers reported further development of purple spot symptoms in their asparagus fields, and potato late blight was confirmed in two separate locations in Montcalm County. These incidents, as well as other instances of disease and pest presence, prompted growers to take appropriate actions to safeguard their crops.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2021 and 5-year average) showed: corn dough, 97, 92, 96, 88; corn dented, 69, 51, 69, 62; corn mature, 13, 8, 21, 12; corn harvested for silage, 25, 16, 29, 25; soybeans dropping leaves, 38, 20, 47, 27; barley mature, 100, 98, N/A, N/A; barley harvested, 86, 74, 81, N/A; dry beans setting pods, 100, 97, N/A, N/A; dry beans dropping leaves, 78, 51, 88, 54; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 89, 83, 86, 72; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 33, 18, 33, N/A; other hay, third cutting, 67, 47, 71, 47; other hay, fourth cutting, 10, 4, 6, N/A; oats harvested, 97, 94, 94, N/A; sugarbeets harvested, 7, 4, 11, 10.
Return to Top of Page