Corn, Beans Show Progress; Wheat Harvest Finishes
Published: Friday, August 14, 2020
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 9.
Soil moisture levels remained adequate as many areas of the state experienced scattered rainfall. There were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork.
Crop conditions held steady throughout the week, although some areas were in need of precipitation.
Corn and soybeans showed good progression, with reported conditions generally improving.
Wheat harvest concluded as oat and barley threshing quickly progressed.
The second and third cuttings of alfalfa and other hay continued as weather allowed; high humidity continued to challenge dry down and forage quality.
Sugarbeet conditions rebounded from the previous week as weather improved in major growing areas.
The drought condition monitor updated with data through Aug. 6 reported a decrease in moderate drought conditions across the state.
Other activities included crop scouting, spraying herbicides and assessing crop-marketing strategies.
Fruit
A cooler, wetter week was a welcome change last week. Codling moth and oblique banded leaf roller flights continued.
Mid-season blueberry varieties were harvested in the West Central. Fruit quality to date was excellent. In the Southwest, growers finished up harvest of Bluecrop. Jersey harvest was underway there and growers were beginning Elliott harvest.
Apples continued to size well with Honeycrisp in the East ranging from 2.25 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Most fruit in the Southwest was at least 2 inches. Jersey Mac harvest was anticipated to begin in the East in about a week.
Early season peach harvest continued in the East. Red Haven harvest was anticipated to begin there in about a week In the Southwest, Risingstar, Summer Serenade and Saturn varieties were harvested. Red Haven harvest is anticipated to begin soon. Rains last week helped to size fruit.
Vegetables
Pumpkins and winter squash were setting fruit in the East; in the South, both crops were beginning to change color. Peppers in the Southeast were sizing up nicely and fields overall looked good.
Pest pressure was reportedly high in peppers, potatoes and tomatoes and scouting activities remained a priority.
Sweet corn harvest continued in the East, while producers in the South applied spray applications where needed.
In the Southwest, cucumber, yellow squash and zucchini fields were removed as field operations moved to second and third plantings.
Weather conditions remained conducive for powdery mildew development on cucurbit crops and the disease continued to be problematic for growers.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 7 percent; short, 26 percent; adequate, 64 percent; surplus, 3 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 7 percent; short, 38 percent; adequate, 53 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2019 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 95, 85, 59, 84; corn dough, 38, 13, 13, 27; soybeans blooming, 95, 91, 67, 86; soybeans setting pods, 80, 65, 28, 58; winter wheat harvested, 98, 91, 85, 94; barley headed, 96, 91, 94, NA; barley mature, 66, 34, 38, NA; barley harvested, 30, 5, 9, NA; dry edible beans blooming, 98, 95, 59, 78; dry beans setting pods, 55, 16, 18, 41; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 93, 88, 70, 80; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 38, 22, 12, 25; other hay, second cutting, 74, 59, 38, 62; other hay, third cutting, 11, 3, NA, NA; oats mature, 95, 87, 62, NA; oats harvested, 43, 10, 19, 37.
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