Michigan Crop Conditions Holding Steady Again Despite Lack of Rainfall

Field Crops

Over 30 percent of the state remained in severe drought condition, according to Marlo Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending June 20, 2021.

The vast majority of the driest counties were concentrated in the South-Central Lower Peninsula. Some areas received much needed rainfall, but overall conditions remained dry.

Winter wheat condition improved with 63 percent of the crop rated in good to excellent condition. Corn and soybean conditions were holding strong considering the lack of moisture in most areas.

First cuttings of hay and alfalfa continued as weather allowed. Lack of moisture has impacted yield in the driest areas. Other activities included pesticide applications and crop scouting.

National Crop Progress

Michigan Crop Progress

Corn
Emerged: 100%
Condition: 60% G/E

Soybeans
Emerged: 98%
Condition: 57% G/E

Wheat
Headed: 95%
Mature: 3%
63% G/E

Barley
Headed: 23%
25% G/E

Dry Beans
Planted: 94%
Emerged: 69%

Oats
Headed: 37%
51% G/E

Sugarbeets
70% G/E

Range and pasture
34% G/E

Fruit

Seasonal temperatures returned last week and the cooler weather helped to mitigate drought conditions as evapotranspiration rates were reduced. Regardless, the state remains in a drought and additional rain was needed. Fruit producers were irrigating where available.

Peaches were hand thinned in the Southwest and in the Grand Rapids area. Pits were not quite hardened. Tarnished plant bugs were feeding on fruit.

Tart cherries in the Southwest and in the Grand Rapids area were coloring. Ethephon was applied in some blocks. Tarts in the Northwest did not increase in size last week.

Apples in the Southwest were over 30 mm. Growers focused on hand thinning varieties that initiated bud set first. Codling moth catches continued to be significant. Apples in the Northwest were 23 mm so the window for thinning applications passed. Growers that did not achieve adequate chemical thinning will hand thin there in a few weeks. Apples in the Grand Rapids area ranged in size from 30 mm for later ripening varieties to 1.5 inches for early ripening varieties.

Blueberries in the Southwest were looking better now that fruit has begun to size. Shoot growth was good.

Vegetables

Continued pest presence throughout the State had producers applying pesticides whenever practical. Among the crops most heavily impacted by insect activity were celery, potatoes, and sweet corn.

Tomatoes were being harvested in greenhouses and setting in fields.

Meanwhile, field plantings of peppers were setting buds and flowering. Some fields reported poor germination of root crops like carrots, beets, and turnips.

In the West Central region, asparagus field shutdown was beginning, with harvesting of some fields to commence soon afterwards.

Fungal presence was detected in several onion fields throughout the region.

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