Field Crops
Hot and humid weather was experienced across most of the State as growing conditions remained generally strong, according to Marlo D. Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending August 8, 2021. Drought conditions decreased yet again with less than 4 percent of the State now reported in moderate to severe drought. The driest areas continue to be the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula and the counties surrounding Saginaw Bay in the eastern central Lower Peninsula.
Hay producers worked towards completion of second cuttings as conditions allowed. Third cuttings were in full swing as progress advanced well ahead of schedule. Other activities included crop scouting, hay hauling, and mid-season equipment maintenance.
Corn
Silking: 97%
Dough: 41%
79% G/E
Soybeans
Blooming: 96%
Setting pods: 84%
72% G/E
Wheat
Harvested: 96%
Barley
Headed: 100%
Mature: 79%
52% G/E
Dry Beans
Blooming: 100%
Setting pods: 78%
46% G/E
Oats
Mature: 90%
Harvested:51 %
66% G/E
Sugarbeets
70% G/E
Range and pasture
60% G/E
Fruits
Summer fruit harvest continued. Redhaven peach harvest was anticipated to begin soon in southern Michigan. Earlier variety harvest continued. Apples continued to size well and were beginning to color. Bluecrop blueberry harvest in the Southwest was winding down. Fruit size and firmness was excellent. Yields have generally been very good. Growers applied supplemental irrigation last week. Some blueberry growers reported difficulty finding labor for hand harvest.
Vegetables
Producers throughout the State continued to apply fungicides and insecticides where necessary in response to continued disease and pest presence. Among the affected crops were asparagus, celery, and carrots. Additionally, there were reports of downy mildew in cucumbers, powdery mildew in hard squash, and Phytophthora in zucchini. Onion harvest was ramping up while pumpkins were beginning to color on some farms. Eggplants and bell peppers were hitting the markets, and hot peppers were ripening to full color. Harvest of new potatoes was ongoing with the forecast for late blight set at medium risk for most of the State. No late blight had been reported in Michigan to date.
