The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending July 16.
Although most of the state experienced several rain events, the timely showers and warm temperatures proved beneficial to overall crop development.
While some areas in northern Michigan continued to struggle with saturated fields, rainfall in the lower central and southern parts were welcomed, as they provided a much needed addition to short moisture supplies.
There were 4.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
The weather boosted corn development, as much of the crop greened up and entered the tasseling stage.
Corn remained in mostly good condition, except for drowned out areas.
Soybeans also benefitted from the rain and were continuing to close canopies and cover rows.
Between showers, producers applied fertilizer and herbicide to both corn and soybeans, as well as, fungicide on sugarbeets and dry beans.
Wheat had been slow to dry down due to the wet, muggy weather, but dry conditions by week's end allowed harvest activities to pick back up.
The second cutting of alfalfa and dry hay were also underway as the timely rain had improved regrowth.
Fruit
Warm, sunny weather with intermittent showers helped soil moisture supplies improve and promoted growth and development in tree fruits in many areas of the state, but the frequency of the rain events has led to concerns of disease management in apples and fruit cracking in sweet cherries.
Harvest of early peach varieties began in the Southwest; growers continued to monitor for damage from birds, oriental fruit moth, and bacterial spot.
Sweet cherry harvest was starting in the Northwest and was wrapping up in the Southwest while tart cherry harvest began in the West Central region and was about half complete in the East.
Blueberry producers have been balancing irrigation, pest control sprays, and machine harvest of early varieties.
Raspberry harvest continued for summer red raspberry and black raspberry varieties. Concord and Niagara grapes were at berry touch while Riesling in the Northwest were at buckshot berry.
Some early varieties of plums were starting to develop color, but most of this fruit was expected to drop early. Strawberry renovation was underway at most farms.
Vegetables
Carrots continued to make good progress in the West Central region. The majority of asparagus fields in the area were ferning out.
Cucumber harvest was ongoing in the Southeast with many growers reporting good quality.
Sweet corn harvest from early planted fields was expected to begin soon.
Watermelon and muskmelon growers were advised to scout for downy mildew and apply preventative fungicide as needed.
Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) was found in St. Joseph County potatoes on July 7. Growers statewide are advised to be vigilant in scouting efforts and application of preventative fungicide.
Overall, the potato crop was reported to be in excellent condition with harvest expected to begin soon in the Southwest.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 2 percent; short, 12 percent; adequate, 66 percent; surplus, 20 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 3 percent; short, 12 percent; adequate, 70 percent; surplus, 15 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2016 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 15, 2, 19, 25; soybeans blooming, 53, 23, 40, 47; soybeans setting pods, 16, 3, 7, 7; winter wheat mature, 79, 64, 89, NA; winter wheat harvested, 34, 10, 39, 35; dry beans emerged, 94, 89, 100, 100; dry beans blooming, 4, 0, 7, 15; alfalfa hay, first cutting, 90, 87, 100, NA; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 48, 34, 52, NA; other hay, first cutting, 66, 63, 88, NA; other hay, second cutting, 30, 19, 29, NA; oats headed, 84, 79, 95, 95. oats harvested, 1, 0, 0, 3.