Farmers Begin Harvesting Silage
Published: Friday, September 13, 2024
The following is from the Michigan Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 8.
Cooler temperatures and limited rainfall last week aided maturing field crops. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork.
Both corn and soybeans were entering their final growth stages. Seed corn harvest was ongoing in the Southwest. Dry bean growers were preparing to begin harvest.
A few farmers began planting winter wheat, but dry conditions limited progress.
The sugarbeet crop was in very good shape as early campaign harvest continued.
Michigan potato harvest continued with good yields reported. Both growers and buyers were pleased with quality. Growers planned to begin storing potatoes in the coming weeks.
Ideal conditions prevailed for harvesting corn silage. Limited precipitation reduced hay regrowth.
Other activities last week included scouting for pests, planting cover crops, baling straw, hauling hay, chopping alfalfa for silage, alfalfa seeding and tending to livestock.
Fruit
Cooler evenings last week were good for color development in apples. All apple varieties were ripening ahead of schedule.
In the Northwest, harvest of early strains of Honeycrisp, Gala and McIntosh was moving along nicely.
In the West Central, Gala and Fuji harvest was underway. Honeycrisp were mature; color development greatly improved over the past week. Jonagold and Empire harvest was anticipated to begin soon there.
Vegetables
Temperatures varied throughout the week as vegetable producers continued late-season plantings and harvest.
Yellow squash and zucchini harvest quantities were steady, while cucumber supply to market was reportedly light.
Harvest of tomatoes, eggplant, okra and peppers were underway, with aphids present in many greenhouses and high tunnels. Pumpkins were ripening on many farms.
Plantings for kale, salad mixes and collard greens continued to go in for autumn harvest.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 14%; short, 28%; adequate, 54%; surplus, 4%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 8%; short, 22%; adequate, 65%; surplus, 5%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn dough, 95, 88, 86, 88; corn dented, 66, 49, 54, 55; corn mature, 8, 2, 8, 9; corn harvested for silage, 15, 6, 20, 21; soybeans dropping leaves, 26, 10, 11, 21; winter wheat planted, 2, 0, 0, 1; dry edible beans dropping leaves, 59, 29, 44, 52; dry edible beans harvested, 2, NA, 0, 1; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 82, 75, 80, 78; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 39, 28, 38, NA; other hay, third cutting, 54, 44, 53, 50; other hay, fourth cutting, 10, 4, NA, NA; sugarbeets harvested, 5, 4, 2, 5.
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