Hot, dry weather continued throughout the state. According to USDA’s Crop Progress Report, there were 6.7 days suitable for field work last week.
That dry weather contributed to the end of corn and soybean planting and helped push dry bean planting along. However, compared to the week prior, crop conditions slid.
For the week ending 6/21, 58 percent of the corn was rated good to excellent, and 33 percent in fair condition. For the week ending 6/14, 65 percent of the corn was rated good to excellent and 28 percent in fair condition.
67 percent of soybeans were rated good to excellent the week ending 6/14, and 27 percent rated in fair. This week, 57 percent of soybeans were rated in good to excellent condition and 34 percent in fair.
Winter wheat quality had a 1 percent decline in the good to excellent rating. This week, 66 percent of the wheat is rated in good to excellent condition, 31 percent in fair.
More sugarbeets are rated as fair. Only 8 percent of the crop is rated in excellent condition, 33 percent in good, and 45 percent in fair.
62 percent of the dry edible bean crop is planted, 24 percent more than last week, and 22 percent of the crop is emerged.
Fruit
A relatively dry week caused some fruit to show signs of leaf curl on unirrigated sites. Peaches in the Southwest averaged 25 mm. Pits were still soft. Hand thinning was underway. On the Ridge, peaches had a nice crop depending on the site with some areas heavier or lighter depending on cultivar and site. In the East, peaches were between 23 and 34 mm. Thinning continued. Peach leaf curl symptoms were common there. Tart cherries were 13 mm in the Southwest. Pit hardening was complete. Growers were encouraged to continue to apply cherry leaf spot cover sprays regardless of crop load. In the Northwest, tart cherries were 11 to 12 mm. Crop size was variable with some blocks having a heavy load while other areas had a light load. Hot temperatures during bloom caused a very quick bloom period. Some believe there was not enough time for bees to adequately pollinate because the bloom time was so short. Apples in the Southwest ranged from 23 to 35 mm and hand thinning was underway. On the Ridge, apples continued to grow quickly and most were 14 to 20 mm in size. June drop was over and crop load was very good in most areas. In the Northwest, apples ranged from 6 to 11 mm and growers were focused on crop load management. In the East, apples continued to size well with most fruit between 25 and 29 mm. June drop was underway. Fire blight infections appeared to be low across the State even though environmental conditions were prime for such infections.
Vegetables
Early sweet corn was about shin high and started to tassel this week; planting continued in the East. In the South, transplants of tomatoes and eggplant were completed, while processing tomatoes began to flower in the Southeast. Early cole crops were beginning to form small heads. Asparagus harvest was complete in most areas and growers began post-harvest applications. Harvest of lowtunnel grown cucumbers, yellow squash and zucchini began. Early potatoes were blooming in the Southwest. No potato blight has been reported yet this season in Michigan.
