Field Crops
Despite a few rain showers, crop drying conditions were ideal for much of the week, according to Marlo D. Johnson, Director of the Great Lakes Regional Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending October 3, 2021.
Silage corn chopping neared its conclusion as grain corn harvest continued ahead of schedule. Reported grain moisture at harvest was 24 percent, down two points from the previous week. Soybean harvest also progressed significantly ahead of the five-year average. Reported soybean moisture at harvest was 14 percent, down two points from the previous week.
Dry bean harvest continued to outpace the five-year average; reporters noted that timely rains and low disease pressures in the Thumb region led to encouraging yields and high-quality beans. Conditions for Sugarbeet digging were much better than the previous week and good progress was made.
Third cuttings of hay neared completion as fourth cuttings continued; some fifth cut alfalfa for haylage was reported in southern counties. Other activities included hauling manure, repairing and readying equipment for harvest, ordering supplies, and catching up on paperwork.
Corn
Dented: 95%
Mature: 77%
Harvested for grain: 17%
Harvested for silage: 92%
70% G/E
Soybeans
Dropping leaves: 94%
Harvested: 31%
70% G/E
Wheat
Planted: 32%
Emerged: 13%
Dry Beans
Harvested: 84%
% G/E
Sugarbeets
Harvested: 37%
77% G/E
Fruit
Apple harvest moved rapidly last week aided by favorable weather and a lighter crop load. Maturity in many varieties advanced quickly with some varieties advancing more quickly than predicted. Golden delicious harvest was more than 50 percent complete in the Southwest and most Ida Red and Empire had been harvested there. Growers will begin focusing on Red Delicious soon. In the Grand Rapids area, Empire harvest was complete and growers were harvesting Golden Delicious.
