Michigan Soybean, Sugarbeet Harvest Ahead of Five-Year Average While Corn, Dry Beans on Pace

The state continued to experience generally drier conditions over the past week, according to Marlo Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending September 27, 2020.

Warm and dry fall weather allowed for fieldwork throughout most of the week as soil moisture levels decreased in most areas. Pasture and range conditions deteriorated due to a clear lack of moisture combined with cooler temperatures in previous weeks.

Corn and soybean conditions held steady as the majority of the crop approached maturity and harvest began. Corn silage harvest continued to progress as conditions for chopping were nearly ideal. Sugarbeet harvest continued as weather allowed. Third and fourth cuttings of Hay continued although progress was somewhat stalled. This stagnation is likely attributed to drier autumn conditions. Dry bean conditions showed improvement as favorable weather allowed for substantial strides in harvest with over half of the crop reportedly reaching maturity.

Other activities included seeding winter wheat and cover crops, installing and replacing drainage tile, and preparing equipment for harvest.

Corn
Dough: 100%
Dented: 96%
Mature: 55%
Harvested for grain: 4%
Harvested for silage: 88%
Condition: 55% G/E

Soybeans
Dropping leaves: 89%
Mature: 49%
Harvested: 13%
Condition: 60% G/E

Sugarbeets
Harvested: 31%
Condition: 58% G/E

Dry Beans
Dropping leaves: 97%
Mature: 55%
Harvested: 37%

Fruit
Weather conditions last week were excellent for apple harvest. Growers in the Southwest were finishing Gala and Honeycrisp harvests and were preparing to start Red and Golden Delicious harvests. On the Ridge, growers finished up Gala and McIntosh harvests. Honeycrisp coloring was excellent and approximately two-thirds of the crop had already been harvested there. In the East, growers were finishing up Honeycrisp and moving to early Fuji strains, Jonagold and Jonathan. Farmers market and pick your own demand was very strong with many growers reporting record sales for this time of the year

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