Field Crops
Adequate rainfall events occurred across a majority of the State as growing conditions improved, according to Marlo D. Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending July 25, 2021.
Drought conditions decreased in most areas due to continued precipitation. Only seven percent of the State in moderate to severe drought, with the driest areas being the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula and the counties surrounding Saginaw Bay in the eastern central Lower Peninsula.
Hay producers worked on second cuttings as conditions allowed; early third cuttings began in some areas. Other activities included crop scouting, hay hauling, fungicide spraying, and mid-season equipment maintenance.
Corn
Silking: 78%
Dough: 2%
82% G/E
Soybeans
Blooming: 81%
Setting pods: 49%
72% G/E
Wheat
Harvested: 83%
68% G/E
Barley
Headed: 90%
Mature: 24%
44% G/E
Dry Beans
Blooming: 89%
Setting pods: 43%
79% G/E
Oats
Headed: 100%
Mature: 58%
Harvested: 2%
59% G/E
Sugarbeets
81% G/E
Range and pasture
51% G/E
Fruits
Tart cherry harvest was in full swing in the Northwest and nearly complete in the rest of the State. Some growers found a few more cherries than they had been anticipating. Tart cherry quality across the State was excellent. Size was very good despite mid-season dry weather.
Powdery mildew pressure in both apples and cherries was higher than normal due to the hot, dry Spring. Apple size has responded very favorably to recent rainy days.
Peach harvest continued in the Southwest with growers harvesting varieties in the Garnet Beauty line. Red flesh was common in those varieties with dark flesh. Peach harvest near Grand Rapids was expected to begin soon.
Blueberry harvest continued. In the Southwest, growers harvested Bluecrop. Fruit size and quality have been excellent. Growers continued to maintain cover for anthracnose and alternaria, as well as, Spotted wing Drosophila.
Vegetables
Disease pressure was high for a number of vegetable crops throughout the State, including asparagus and carrots. Rots were present in cabbages, zucchini, and hard squash while blights were damaging pepper plants on some farms. Insect presence was reported in celery and sweet corn fields.
Melons were close to harvest while tip over had occurred on some early sweet onions. Fruit of various sizes were reported on pumpkins in several locations. Pickling cucumber plantings had been completed and harvests were beginning, with downy mildew being reported in several fields in the East. Growers were monitoring fields and treating with fungicides where possible. Forecast for potato late blight was at high risk for most of the State.
