Frost Damage Expected in Fruit
Published: Friday, May 5, 2023
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 30.
Producers throughout the state had a small window to continue fieldwork due to the cold temperatures and precipitation received at week's end.
There were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
Both the Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula experienced freezing temperatures. Producers continued to report an abundance of moisture in fields and pastures.
Winter wheat condition remained in mostly good to fair condition.
Low soil temperatures have slowed emergence and growth 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 slowed with recent cold temperatures. Farmers had to stay alert to the changing weather conditions.
Low temperatures in the past week in some locations reached the point where the fruit crop will be damaged, though in most areas the temperature remained just above the point of damage; more will be known as the season progresses.
The cold, wet weather was not conducive to pollinator activity. In the Southwest, tart cherries were at full bloom. In the Southeast, cherries were open cluster to white stages.
In the West Central and Northwest, tart cherries were mostly at tight cluster.
In the Southwest, peaches were at full bloom to early petal fall. In the Southeast, peaches were at the pink stage with some bloom. In the West Central, peaches ranged from red calyx to first bloom.
In the Southwest, blueberry leaf buds have opened. One to two leaves were visible. Fruit buds were separating. More advanced locations were at early to late pink bud.
In the Southeast, blueberries were at tight cluster to early pink bud.
Early blooming apple varieties in the Southwest were at late pink to king bloom with other varieties generally in pink.
In the warmest areas of the Southeast and West Central, apples were at pink. Apples were at tight cluster in the Northwest.
Vegetables
Michigan vegetable producers were moving forward with their field activities, although colder temperatures impeded planting progress throughout much of the state.
Weather conditions led to a slowdown in asparagus fieldwork, but growers were still applying herbicides when possible, and emergence was established in some areas.
Meanwhile, planting of potatoes and sweet corn was underway, as was transplanting of a number of vegetable crops, including broccoli, cauliflower and peppers.
Tomatoes in hoop houses were setting fruit, and garlic was up in multiple fields.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0%; short, 3%; adequate, 67%; surplus, 30%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 1%; short, 8%; adequate, 74%; surplus, 17%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2022 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 2, 1, 1, 7; soybeans planted, 6, 2, 3, 7; winter wheat jointing, 21, 15, 29, 31; barley planted, 8, 6, 1, 12; oats planted, 25, 16, 18, 37; oats emerged, 6, 1, 1, 15; sugarbeets planted, 76, 49, 14, 45; sugarbeets emerged, 15, 2, NA, NA.
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