Eighty Percent of Corn Crop, 60 Percent of Soybeans Planted So Far in Michigan, Says USDA

Photo: MSU

Despite moisture last week across much of the state, Michigan farmers were able to continue planting in between rain.

So far in Michigan, 80 percent of the expected corn crop has been planted according to the USDA’s Weekly Crop Progress Report for the week ending Sunday, May 29, 2022.  This compares with 60 percent last week.  Last year, 94 percent had already been planted and 72 percent was planted as an average over the past five years.  At this time, 47 percent of the state’s corn crop has emerged.

The USDA also shows that 60 percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted at this time.  Last week, that percentage was at 47 percent.  This compares with 90 percent in 2021 and 60 percent over the past five-year average.  To date, 33 percent of the state’s soybean crop has emerged.

In addition, 99 percent of the state’s sugarbeet crop is planted.  This compares with 100 percent already planted last year and 98 percent over the past five-year average. At this time, 88 percent of Michigan’s sugarbeet crop has emerged.

The report shows that there were 4.1 suitable days for fieldwork this past week compared to 4.3 suitable days the week before.

Emergence progress was significant across all crops, according to Marlo D. Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The Eastern Upper Peninsula is still experiencing abnormally dry weather. The Northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula reported freezing and near freezing nights, emerged crops may have been damaged in some areas. In the Lower Peninsula planting of corn and soybeans continued as weather allowed. First cuttings of alfalfa and other hay began in the southernmost counties. Insect and disease pressure remained relatively low across most areas. Other activities during the week included initial crop scouting, spreading fertilizer, and tillage.

Fruit

Cooler, wetter weather last week slowed phenological development. On the Ridge, early apples were around 12 mm with varieties like Gala, Fuji and Honeycrisp around 6 mm. In the West Central apples ranged from bloom to fruit set. Varieties like Gala and Honeycrisp were in bloom. In the Northwest, apples were generally in petal fall. In the Southwest, apples ranged from 10 to 15 mm with earlier varieties being further along.

Tart cherries were in shuck on the Ridge. In the West Central, tarts ranged from bloom to shuck split. In the Northwest, tart cherries were in shuck. In the Southwest, tart cherries were around 11 mm. Crop potential was very good there.

Peaches on the Ridge were in shuck. In the West Central, peaches ranged from petal fall to shuck split. In the Southwest, peaches were out of shuck and fruit ranged from 8 to 15 mm.

Blueberries in the Southwest ranged from late bloom to petal fall depending upon variety.

Vegetables

Warm-season crops were taking off this week, with field plantings of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants underway throughout the State.

Sweet corn planting continued, and earlier seedings were emerging. Transplanting of onions and leeks continued while squash and cucumbers were being seeded and transplanted in the Southwest.

In the West Central region, planting of processing carrots was finishing up, and preparations were being made for pumpkin and melon plantings.

Asparagus harvest was robust, with some fields already shutting down after producers had completed pickings. Minor purple spot was detected on some spears following recent cooler weather.

Source: USDA Crop Progress Report, May 31, 2022.

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