Frosty Weather Slows Fieldwork
Published: Friday, April 28, 2023
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 23.
As temperatures dropped, fieldwork slowed across much of the state due to wet and frosty conditions. There were 3.2 days suitable for fieldwork.
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, approximately 100% of the state experienced no drought conditions.
The Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula experienced freezing temperatures and more snow. Planting in these areas has been delayed. Further south, producers continued to report an abundance of moisture in fields and pastures.
Winter Wheat condition ratings declined slightly from last week. In areas that were dry enough, planting continued for oats, barley, corn, sugarbeets, and soybeans.
Other activities during the week included fertilizing where conditions allowed, spring tillage and spreading manure.
Fruit
Crop development surged forward with the warm weather experienced during the week of April 10. More temperate conditions returned last week and frost and freeze warnings worried fruit farmers, especially those in the South and West Central.
Fruit north of Allegan County were less developed so frosts and freezes were less of a concern. Stone fruit like peaches and cherries were the most vulnerable to cold weather at this time.
In the West Central, early peaches ranged from side green to calyx red. In the Southeast, peaches were at the pink stage and some at first bloom, while in the Southwest peaches were at first to full bloom.
Tart cherries were at bud burst in the Northwest, green tip to open cluster in the West Central, open cluster to white stages in the Southeast and early bloom in the Southwest.
In all regions, most apple varieties were at tight cluster with the South and West Central also reporting some pink.
Blueberries were at early green tip in the Southeast. In the Southwest, blueberry leaf buds have opened. One to two leaves were visible. Fruit buds were separating.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2022 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 1, 0, 0, 1; soybeans planted, 2, 1, 0, 1; winter wheat jointing, 15, 6, 8, 19; barley planted, 6, 2, 0, 6; oats planted, 16, 5, 4, 23; oats emerged, 1, 0, 0, 8; sugarbeets planted, 49, 39, 3, 30; sugarbeets emerged, 2, 0, NA, NA.
Return to Top of Page