Rains Accelerate Crop Emergence
Published: Friday, May 31, 2024
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending May 26.
Periodic rains and warm weather accelerated crop emergence across the state last week. There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn, soybeans and oats emerged ahead of last year and the five-year average.
Sugarbeet condition was rated 95% good to excellent, up from the previous week.
Potato planting was almost complete, and emergence looked good.
Wheat stripe rust remained prevalent and impacted winter wheat condition. Some wheat fields had already begun to flower in southern Michigan.
Hay harvest progress started to pick up speed.
Other farm activities included scouting and applying pesticides.
Fruit
Precipitation was sporadic last week, with some parts of the state getting more rain than normal while other stayed rather dry. Most of the state saw at least some rain over the Memorial Day weekend.
Spray timing was difficult with windy conditions last week.
In the Southeast, apples were around 10-12 mm in the Fenton area and, as large as 26 mm in Britton.
In the Northwest, bloom was variable; there were trees with 30-50% bloom while other trees were finishing blooming and starting fruit set.
In the Southeast, tart cherries ranged from 11-13 mm.
Peaches were around 12-14 mm. Even though peaches seemed to be hit the hardest by spring frost events, they seemed to be bouncing back.
Blueberries were at fruit set in the Southeast and at the green fruit stage in the West Central.
Vegetables
Michigan vegetable producers were continuing to plant amid an increase in insect pressures. Asparagus pickings were bountiful, though the pace of harvest began to slow.
Field tomatoes, eggplant and peppers continued to be planted.
Diamondback moth and cabbage looper were reported in some brassicas in the Southwest; transplanting continued for these crops.
Seed corn maggots were active while producers were seeding and transplanting cucurbits.
In the East Central and West Central, there were aster leafhopper infections in carrots.
Many potatoes were large enough to be hilled; Colorado potato beetle activity was high.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0%; short, 4%; adequate, 76%; surplus, 20%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0%; short, 4%; adequate, 83%; surplus, 13%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn planted, 75, 50, 74, 69; corn emerged, 41, 20, 36, 35; soybeans planted, 66, 42, 73, 61; soybeans emerged, 35, 17, 31, 29; winter wheat jointing, 91, 87, 86, 84; winter wheat headed, 56, 21, 22, 15; dry edible beans planted, 0, 0, 2, 1; alfalfa hay, first cutting, 17, 6, 14, 7; other hay, first cutting, 6, 3, 5, 3; oats planted, 88, 81, 89, 86; oats emerged, 74, 61, 53, 62; sugarbeets emerged, 95, 75, 94, 78.
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