Michigan Enjoys Pleasant Weather
Published: Friday, September 10, 2021
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 5.
Pleasant and uneventful weather prevailed across the state this week. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
The heat and humidity that dominated weather patterns for much of August was abruptly replaced by a cooler and drier air mass.
Seed corn harvest was underway in the southwest while silage corn harvest was ramping up in southern and eastern counties.
There have been several reports of tar spot showing up in corn fields, causing plants to die prematurely.
Some harvesting of dry beans began while some producers sprayed to desiccate them ahead of harvest.
Wheat planting was expected to start as more ground opened up, but drier soils have some producers waiting before planting wheat.
Hay cutting continued as conditions allowed, despite the risk of rain.
Soybean progress remained ahead of the five-year average as 22 percent were dropping leaves and a number of reporters indicated leaves were turning color.
Other activities included summer tillage, scouting for pests and preparing equipment for harvest.
Fruit
Brown marmorated stink bug nymphs and adult numbers increased last week. Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) numbers remained high. Later season peaches like Glowingstar, Cresthaven and Gloria, were harvested in the Southwest.
Apple harvest continued with main season Gala being harvested in the southwest. Cropload was variable. Gala harvest began nine days earlier than normal.
Honeycrisp harvest was still a few weeks off in the southern part of the state and a month off in the more northern reaches. In the Northwest, early varieties like Ginger Gold were harvested.
Blueberry harvest in the southwest wound down. Growers were encouraged to irrigate fields to maintain good plant health and to promote flower bud formation at the end of the season.
Vegetables
Producers throughout the state were continuing to wrap up their vegetable season activities, with many starting work on cleaning up their fields and planting fall cover crops.
Pumpkins were maturing nicely, and harvest was underway in some areas.
Sweet corn fields were being harvested amid continued insect presence.
Harvest of carrots and peppers continued while supply levels of squash and zucchini remained steady.
Some areas were faced with high risk for late blight, particularly in the West Central region, but no late blight had been reported for potatoes or tomatoes to date.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 11 percent; short, 42 percent; adequate, 45 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 9 percent; short, 41 percent; adequate, 49 percent; surplus, 1 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn dough, 94, 87, 91, 82; corn dented, 61, 36, 60, 49; corn mature, 5, 1, 8, 5; corn harvested for silage, 14, 4, 30, 13; soybeans dropping leaves, 22, 3, 18, 11; barley harvested, 77, 59, 82, N/A; dry beans dropping leaves, 80, 40, 34, 26; dry edible beans harvested, 1, 0, 0, 0; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 83, 75, 80, 64; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 18, 7, 16, N/A; other hay, third cutting, 58, 41, 40, 36; other hay, fourth cutting, 1, 0, 0, N/A; oats harvested, 90, 81, 99, 89; sugarbeets harvested, 3, N/A, 4, 5.
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