Crop Conditions Lag Behind Pace
Published: Friday, July 21, 2023
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending July 16.
Corn and soybean condition improved in those fields that have received recent rains.
There were 4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Despite recent precipitation, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, counties in the western half of the Upper Peninsula and the northern and thumb regions of the Lower Peninsula were abnormally dry, while the rest of the Lower Peninsula's major crop growing counties were in moderate drought.
Wheat harvest continued in the most southern portions of the Lower Peninsula. Yield reports remained mixed.
Field crop conditions were variable across the state; areas that received rain showed improvements while others remained in fair condition.
Corn and soybean crops remain behind their respective five-year reproductive averages. The crops remained variable, though they generally showed widescale improvement due to rains in recent weeks.
Scattered hail in Southeast Michigan last week caused damage to some corn and soybean fields.
Other activities include, baling straw and spraying for weed control.
Fruit
The recent rain continued to provide relief from the dryness from earlier in the season although much of the state remains under drought conditions.
In the Northwest, apples were sizing, and Honeycrisp were 40 millimeters. Gala were 35.5 millimeters. Farmers have hand thinned where the crop load was too big.
Overall, the apple crop is looking excellent in Northwest Michigan.
In the Southeast, King fruit observed in Fenton and Romeo were sizing up to 60 millimeters.
In the Southern parts of Michigan, tart cherry harvest has mostly wrapped up.
In the Northwest, tart cherries were red and tasting delicious. Tart harvest began, particularly in orchards with lighter crops. Tart quality was also excellent.
In the Southwest, peach harvest was underway. Rains over the last few weeks stimulated a new flush of terminal growth on trees in sandy sites without supplemental irrigation.
In the Southeast, the first peaches in the region have been seen to market. Across the state, blueberry harvest continued.
Vegetables
While recent rainfall was certainly welcomed by Michigan vegetable growers, much of the state was still experiencing drought conditions.
Precipitation also facilitated the spread of diseases on several crops, including asparagus, onions and tomatoes.
Additionally, pest presence was detected on squash and other vegetables. These developments led growers to be especially thorough with their herbicide and pesticide applications as they moved ahead with their harvests.
Among the crops being harvested were celery and cucumbers, while winter squash was beginning to set fruit.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 6%; short, 14%; adequate, 59%; surplus, 21%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 9%; short, 37%; adequate, 37%; surplus, 17%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2022 and five-year average) showed: corn silking, 13, 3, 16, 18; soybeans blooming, 36, 23, 47, 40; soybeans setting pods, 5, 1, 13, 10; winter wheat mature, 67, 41, 77, 74; winter wheat harvested, 31, 3, 30, 30; barley headed, 43, 22, 72, 63; barley mature, 1, NA, NA, NA; dry edible beans emerged, 95, 90, NA, NA; dry edible beans blooming, 12, 1, 45, NA; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 44, 33, 58, 49; other hay, second cutting, 19, 14, 35, 25; oats headed, 56, 48, 84, 86; oats mature, 1, NA, NA, NA.
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