The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending June 21.
The majority of the state experienced fairly dry and warm conditions throughout the week. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn and soybean planting reached completion as the majority of both crops were emerged and making good progress.
Wheat continued heading out, as condition held steady. Oats were heading out, although the crop's condition deteriorated slightly due to dry conditions.
Dry bean planting made significant progress for the second week in a row. Hay harvest continued to progress nicely as the weather was ideal for haymaking.
Other activities included nitrogen application to corn, spraying herbicides in row crops, and early season crop scouting efforts.
Fruit
A relatively dry week caused some fruit to show signs of leaf curl on unirrigated sites.
Peaches in the Southwest averaged 25 mm. Pits were still soft. Hand thinning was underway. On the Ridge, peaches had a nice crop depending on the site with some areas heavier or lighter depending on cultivar and site. In the East, peaches were between 23 and 34 mm. Thinning continued. Peach leaf curl symptoms were common there.
Tart cherries were 13 mm in the Southwest. Pit hardening was complete. Growers were encouraged to continue to apply cherry leaf spot cover sprays regardless of crop load. In the Northwest, tart cherries were 11 to 12 mm.
Crop size was variable with some blocks having a heavy load while other areas had a light load. Hot temperatures during bloom caused a very quick bloom period. Some believe there was not enough time for bees to adequately pollinate because the bloom time was so short.
Apples in the Southwest ranged from 23 to 35 mm and hand thinning was underway. On the Ridge, apples continued to grow quickly and most were 14 to 20 mm in size. June drop was over and crop load was very good in most areas.
In the Northwest, apples ranged from 6 to 11 mm and growers were focused on crop load management. In the East, apples continued to size well with most fruit between 25 and 29 mm. June drop was underway.
Fire blight infections appeared to be low across the state even though environmental conditions were prime for such infections.
Vegetables
Early sweet corn was about shin high and started to tassel this week; planting continued in the East.
In the South, transplants of tomatoes and eggplant were completed, while processing tomatoes began to flower in the Southeast.
Early cole crops were beginning to form small heads. Asparagus harvest was complete in most areas and growers began post-harvest applications.
Harvest of lowtunnel grown cucumbers, yellow squash and zucchini began.
Early potatoes were blooming in the Southwest. No potato blight has been reported yet this season.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 9 percent; short, 31 percent; adequate, 54 percent; surplus, 6 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 6 percent; short, 21 percent; adequate, 64 percent; surplus, 9 percent.
The crop progress sch-
edule (last week, previous week, 2019 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 100, 96, 89, 97; corn emerged, 92, 85, 59, 88; soybeans planted, 100, 95, 64, 90; soybeans emerged, 92, 84, 44, 81; winter wheat headed, 80, 71, 75, 89; barley planted, 70, 63, 83, NA; barley emerged, 51, 42, 57, NA; dry edible beans planted, 62, 38, 27, 67; dry edible beans emerged, 35, 13, NA, NA; alfalfa hay, first cutting, 70, 50, 39, 67; other hay, first cutting, 46, 27, 19, 44; oats planted, 100, 95, 94, NA; oats emerged, 88, 84, 82, 91; oats headed, 14, 3, 16, 32.