First Snow, Then Summer Weather
Published: Friday, October 28, 2022
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Oct. 23.
Early in the week, much of the state experienced cool weather and received snow or rain events. By week's end, temperatures jumped and producers continued to make progress harvesting.
There were 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, counties in the Northeastern, Eastern and Southern Lower Peninsula and the Southwestern Upper Peninsula were reported as abnormally dry. The Thumb Region and a few counties in the Southeast did not receive as much precipitation and continued to experience moderate drought.
Corn for grain moisture content at harvest was reported as 22 percent, while soybean moisture content of beans was reported as 13 percent.
Dry bean harvest neared completion.
Soybean harvest was reported ahead of average at week's end; many producers were waiting for moisture to drop before resuming harvest.
Winter wheat planting continued ahead of normal, the Southeast Lower Peninsula reported emergence was poor due to the lack of moisture in the area.
Sugarbeet harvest progressed in the Thumb Region.
Alfalfa cuttings neared completion while other hay harvest continued to trend ahead of last year.
Other activities during the week included, fall tillage, prepping for winter and hauling manure.
Fruit
Apple harvest of late season varieties was wrapping up in Southwest Michigan. Growers there focused on Braeburn, Rome and Evercrisp.
Harvest proceeded quickly aside from some weather delays. Some watercore appeared in some late varieties.
Growers on the Ridge and the West Central harvested Pink Lady, Fuji and Evercrisp. Fruit size and crop load was excellent overall across the state.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2021 and 5-year average) showed: corn mature, 93, 86, 95, 89; corn harvested for grain, 30, 22, 45, 33; corn harvested for silage, 98, 93, N/A, N/A; soybeans harvested, 63, 49, 48, 57; winter wheat planted, 85, 74, 66, 77; winter wheat emerged, 58, 37, 53, 53; dry edible beans harvested, 95, 89, 97, 87; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 93, 88, 73, N/A; other hay, fourth cutting, 64, 56, 34, N/A; sugarbeets harvested, 41, 34, 46, 44.
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