Crops Speeding Toward Maturity
Published: Friday, September 29, 2023
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 24.
Despite being behind schedule in southern Michigan, crops were making progress toward maturity.
There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Soybean and corn for grain harvests were underway. Winter wheat planting was underway for some, and others will begin next month.
Other activities last week included applying fungicides and insecticides, soil testing, planting cover crops, and preparing for harvest season.
Fruit
Weather throughout Michigan last week has been mostly cool and dry.
In the Southwest, Honeycrisp was nearly all harvested in central Berrien County. Apple harvest will be moving soon to Fuji, Jonagold and Yellow Delicious.
In the West Central, farmers were continuing to pick Gala and Honeycrisp.
In the Northwest, Honeycrisp harvest began. There was inconsistency in firmness and brix levels.
Gala harvest was well underway on the Ridge. Fuji and McIntosh strains were also mature. Honeycrisp maturity was faster than expected this season.
Starches were clearing faster than sugar accumulation throughout Michigan for Honeycrisp this year.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 4%; short, 26%; adequate, 69%; surplus, 1%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 4%; short, 20%; adequate, 75%; surplus, 1%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2022 and five-year average) showed: corn dented, 83, 71, 89, 83; corn mature, 22, 19, 37, 39; corn harvested for grain, 1, 1, 3, 3; corn harvested for silage, 46, 37, 55, 61; soybeans dropping leaves, 59, 33, 68, 68; soybeans harvested, 2, 1, 7, 7; winter wheat planted, 6, 3, 18, 15; dry edible beans dropping leaves, 95, 80, 96, 91; dry edible beans harvested, 33, 7, 37, 31; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 89, 88, 96, 87; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 59, 54, 57, NA; other hay, third cutting, 69, 68, 83, 65; sugarbeets harvested, 10, 7, 15, 21.
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