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| Row Crop Roundup - May 11, 2011 (Michigan, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee) |
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Michigan
There’s still “not a whole lot going on” with planting because of the wet weather over the past week, according to an agricultural statistician at the Michigan NASS field office.
According to the latest NASS report, one day was suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 1. Rain ranged from 1.18-1.73 inches in the Upper Peninsula and 1.96-2.58 inches in the Lower Peninsula.
One reporter was quoted by the NASS as saying, “if April showers bring May flowers, we will have a lot of them.” However, Saturday and Sunday were exceptions and some drying took place. But that alone won’t be enough.
For field crops, saturated soil and flooded areas kept farmers out of their fields. Michigan State University extension reported that mid-Michigan is about 5-6 days behind growing-degree days accumulation since March 1.
Powdery mildew has been found on wheat. A reporter from Lapeer County told the NASS “wheat on well-drained soil looks good, as does alfalfa, although growth has been slow due to cool weather.”
Sugar beets that were planted before the most recent stretch of rains are looking good and rye is also coming along nicely. Early-planted oats have not yet emerged.
The lack of growing-degree days has slowed the development of tree and small fruit. Wet weather has delayed the planting of vegetable crops; asparagus spears have begun to appear, but harvest won’t begin for another week or two.
By Kevin Walker
Michigan Correspondent
Iowa
Continued cool, wet weather through the middle of the week of April 24-May 1 again kept Iowa farmers out of the fields and planters in machine sheds, according to the May 2 Iowa Crop & Weather report.
“The weather took a slightly warmer and drier turn near the end of the week, and allowed producers to resume fieldwork and planting activities,” the report said. “By the end of the week, corn planting was just getting started for most producers, while a few farmers were nearly done.”
The warmer weather finally allowed farmers to begin planting in earnest, but many fields remain wet; as a result, with only 8 percent planted (compared to 82 percent last year), progress remains well behind the five-year average of 48 percent, said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.
“This continues to be one of the slowest corn-planting seasons in the last 10 years,” he said. “Let’s hope the weather will cooperate this week so farmers can start to catch up.”
While many growers can plant most of their corn in 3-4 days, Jim Fawcett, Iowa State University extension field agronomist, said some may be done by the end of the week.
“We did get a little rain today (May 5), which may keep some farmers out for a day, but I would guess planters will be going strong again tomorrow (May 6),” he said. “I know some soybeans have also been planted.”
The report added that oat planting was 83 percent complete, behind last year’s 98 percent but marginally ahead of the average of 82 percent, with 44 percent emerging.
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent
Kentucky
“Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” could be Kentucky’s new state theme song, as above-normal rainfall plagues the Commonwealth and influences timely corn and soybean planting.
According to the NASS-Kentucky field office, overall rainfall has averaged 3.89 inches, 2.83 inches above normal. “This past week was the wettest week so far this year,” said Tom Priddy, extension ag meteorologist.
“Western parts of the state, especially along the Ohio River, received the most rainfall. This caused widespread flooding and even caused the river at the Cairo station to rise above the record stage set back in 1937.”
Because of the ground’s saturation, days suitable for fieldwork only averaged one out of a possible seven. Planting progress is significantly behind compared to last year. Planting progress matched the previous week’s report of 17 percent, compared to 82 percent last year and 59 percent for the five-year average.
The NASS crop report stated corn emergence, at 7 percent, is well behind 2010’s 56 percent. No soybeans were planted for this period and only 6 percent were in the ground at this time last year.
Tobacco seeding is finished, but 41 percent of the plants were shorter than 2 inches in stature. Fifty-six percent of the winter wheat’s condition is good. Better yet, NASS said winter wheat headed at 45 percent, ahead of both last year at 20 percent and the five-year average of 30 percent. Some of the wheat crop has been damaged by flooding.
By Susan Hayhurst
Indiana Correspondent
Tennessee
Farmers in Tennessee were hoping the week ending on May 1 would bring relief from the rains April brought. However, Mother Nature had other plans, and sections of the state saw record-setting precipitation, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and the loss of crops and livestock.
Wheat and corn acreage, particularly in West Tennessee, were submerged in water or soaked soil. The excess rainfall delayed the planting of corn, cotton and soybeans, wheat fungicide applications and hay cutting, according to NASS.
Wheat continued its progression, with two-thirds of the crop reaching the headed stage by the end of the week. Twenty-seven percent of wheat was rated in excellent condition. Headed winter wheat for the week ending May 1 was more than double when compared to last year at the same time.
No cotton was planted the week before, and only 2 percent was planted for the week ending May 1. For the same time in 2010, 7 percent of cotton had been planted.
Corn, planted and emerged, is lagging behind the amounts for the same time last year. There was 23 percent of merged corn and 38 percent of planted corn during the week, whereas during the same time in 2010 these figures were respectively 58 and 85 percent.
According to NASS and NWS, there were an average of two days suitable for fieldwork across the state last week. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 37 percent adequate and 63 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture levels were rated 45 percent adequate and 55 percent surplus.
Temperatures averaged 2-5 degrees above normal. Precipitation levels were above-normal across the state, with West Tennessee receiving seven inches of rainfall above normal.
By Tesa Nauman
Tennessee Correspondent |
| 5/12/2011 |
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