Only 38 percent of Michigan’s corn and 30 percent of the state’s soybean crop is rated in “good-to-excellent” condition. That’s according to the USDA latest crop progress report.
Stacey Hughes is a Specialty Hybrids dealer for Hughes Seed Solutions and is based out of Jackson County. She says it all comes down to a lack of rain.
“We have had excessive heat and drought stress as the days and weeks went on with no moisture,” says Hughes. “There’s a lot of growing season left, but we definitely do need that moisture to keep things going.”
She says southeastern Michigan only received a small amount of moisture last weekend.
“I was hearing reports over the weekend anywhere between two-tenths and four-tenths of an inch of rain,” according to Hughes. “I know here in our location, we are sitting right about that two-tenths of an inch mark, so beggars can’t be choosers. We would love just a good all-day, all-night soaking but any little bit is better than nothing.”
Hughes adds that the lack of rain is making it hard for replanted corn and soybeans to emerge.
“It has obviously been a lot cooler this week, but we’ve had a lot of 90-degree days with virtually no rain,” says Hughes. “Our area—like others—is very behind in precipitation. The crops are there and they’re in, but they just need water to germinate. When I was walking a lot of fields last week, I have growers with perfectly good seed just sitting in the seed bed just waiting for moisture to germinate.”
Click below for C.J. Miller’s radio news report for Michigan Ag Today.
