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Michigan crop progress

 

The main crop weather story in Michigan for the week was too much rain in most parts of the state.

"I think the north appreciated the rain more than the south," said John Miyares, an agricultural statistician at the NASS Great Lakes regional office. "The rain put a lot of stuff at a standstill."

Some farmers got their crops planted early in the week ending May 31, so were not put at a disadvantage when it rained late in the week, said Jim Collum, another ag statistician at NASS. As a result, statistics on crop progress were looking good for the week: corn planted was at 96 percent, versus a five-year average of 87 percent.

Soybeans planted were at 86 percent, versus a five-year average of 66 percent. This pattern held true for all the field crop categories except oats headed, which was at 1 percent versus a five-year average of 7 percent. Oats emerged was at 91 percent, versus a five-year average of 86 percent.

The latest Michigan crop weather report said there was "significant damage" to sweet cherries and wine grapes from the frost, which occurred the overnight of May 20-21.

"Damage to apples, tart cherries and Saskatoons in the northwest were still being assessed, but initial reports suggest the damage to those fruits was not as severe," the report stated.

Collum said the damage to sweet cherries and wine grapes may affect the harvest. The report also stated although cooler temperatures in Michigan have kept down insect pressures, excessive rain has increased concerns about diseases, especially apple scab.

For vegetables, asparagus harvest continued in the west and central regions, with picking nearly complete in the southwest. Slicing-carrot varieties were being planted in Oceana County, with earlier seeded dicing varieties showing good stands. Potato planting has been ongoing in the west and central regions, with early plantings emerging.

By Kevin Walker

Michigan Correspondent

6/10/2015