Harvest Underway for Fruit Crops
Published: Friday, July 12, 2024
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending July 7.
Scattered showers persisted across the state last week, but topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 89% rated adequate to surplus.
There were 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Winter wheat harvest was underway in the Lower Peninsula. Oats headed reached 86%, 41 percentage points higher than this time last year.
Corn silking was at 9%. Sugarbeets improved to 88% good to excellent condition.
Producers have begun spraying fungicide for white mold in dry edible beans and soybeans.
Rain showers continued to hinder hay harvest last week, especially in the Upper Peninsula.
Other activities included scouting, hauling hay, baling wheat straw and tending to livestock.
Fruit
Tart cherry harvest continued, and blueberry harvest picked up steam. Recent storms brought high winds and hail which damaged fruit in some orchards.
In the West Central, most early apple varieties ranged from 57-61 mm. In the Southeast, apples ranged from 60-65 mm. In the West Central, tart cherries were red and harvest began.
In the West Central, peaches ranged from 43-45 mm. In the Southeast, peaches passed the pit hardening stage and were sizing well. Very early peaches in warmer sites were harvested.
In the West Central, blueberry harvest was underway with excellent fruit quality and flavor. Yields were excellent due to mild winter weather conditions. Localized spring frost events did not appear to have limited yields. Harvest began in the Southeast.
Vegetables
Harvest approached for many summer crops while producers managed disease. Most notably, cucurbit downy mildew was detected in the Southeast, which was over two weeks earlier than last year.
Cucumber and melon producers responded by applying fungicides.
Pumpkin and winter squash plantings neared conclusion while harvest continued for summer squash.
Early-planted peppers and tomatoes were beginning to set subsequent fruit after the first set.
The first plantings of sweet corn neared harvest, and radish and beet harvest continued.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0%; short, 11%; adequate, 72%; surplus, 17%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0%; short, 5%; adequate, 83%; surplus, 12%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn silking, 9, 0, 2, 1; soybeans blooming, 22, 13, 19, 17; soybeans setting pods, 4, 0, 1, 1; winter wheat mature, 73, 44, 36, 40; winter wheat harvested, 31, 3, 2, 3; dry edible beans emerged, 97, 88, 89, 83; dry edible beans blooming, 19, 0, 1, 4; alfalfa hay, first cutting, 89, 85, 96, 90; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 37, 16, 30, 27; other hay, first cutting, 80, 76, 96, 79; other hay, second cutting, 14, 7, 12, 11; oats headed, 86, 70, 45, 64; oats mature, 2, NA, 0, 1.
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