As part of the NASS report, Anne Dorrance with The Ohio State University strongly recommended those who plant soybeans in the same place each year check fields for pathogens.

“There are several cases in Ohio where low levels of a particular disease were found in a field at the end of one growing season and the same variety was then planted back into the same field the following year, which resulted in an outbreak of disease and greatly-reduced yields,” she said.

Dorrance mentioned soybean cyst nematode, sudden death syndrome, brown stem rot, frogeye leaf spot, sclerotinia stem rot and phytophthora stem canker as diseases which might be found in small sections and necessitate using varieties more resistant to the diseases next year.

Topsoil moisture is now adequate in many parts of the state, according to the NASS weekly crop progress report, but even so, precipitation was slightly below normal for the week.

To date, only 37 percent of the corn crop is mature, compared to 79 percent last year. Corn silage is also running behind, with only 12 percent of the crop off the fields, compared to 49 percent last year at this time.

Only 3 percent of the soybean crop is dropping leaves, compared to 26 percent last year, while 97 percent of the soybean crop has set pods – off slightly from 100 percent at this time last year.

For forage growers, the odds are better. Drier weather meant farmers could get in the fields and harvest their hay. Eighty-nine percent of the third-cutting alfalfa crop has been harvested, slightly lower than last year, and 25 percent of the fourth-cutting alfalfa has been harvested.

In other types of hay, 98 percent grass and mixed hay second cutting has been harvested and 41 percent of the third cutting has been harvested, also down from last year.

Harvesting for vegetables is also running behind. Only 12 percent of the cucumber crop has been harvested, compared to 49 percent at the same time last year.  Potatoes are running close to last year, with 90 percent harvested, only off 2 percent from last year at this time. Processing tomatoes are off to a slow start, with only 22 percent of the crop harvested.

Summer apple harvest is a little down from last year, with only 89 percent of the crop harvested compared to 94 percent at this time last year. Fall and winter apple harvest is also down slightly from last year, with only 8 percent of the crop harvested.

Grape harvest is running at about 79 percent, compared to 95 percent at this time last year. About 41 percent of the peach crop is harvested, compared to 67 percent last year.

Highlights for this week include warmer-than-average temperatures, reports of an especially large apple crop and concerns among farmers of an early frost.

Temperatures in Michigan were 2-3 degrees above normal in the Upper and Lower peninsulas, according to the NASS Michigan field office. Cooler temperatures came later in the week, after near-record high temperatures.

Corn was in the R3-R5 stages, with farmers reporting good ear fill. Soybeans were in R5-R6. Soybean aphids were reported in low numbers.

Alfalfa’s third cutting finished up in southeastern Michigan. Sugar beets are reported in good condition, with growers planning to start the harvest Sept. 14. Farmers are also preparing to plant wheat.

For fruit, the big news is the apple crop: According to the Michigan Apple Committee, prime growing conditions are expected to boost the 2011 crop to 26 million bushels, 40 percent higher than average.

In vegetables, the broccoli harvest began. The carrot harvest continued, with hot weather slowing the growth of the crop in some areas. Bt sweet corn helped to minimize insect damage. The cucumber harvest was winding down, as well.

The onion, pepper and tomato harvests continued, with winter squash and pumpkins maturing rapidly. Harvest of jack o’lanterns is expected to begin soon. Most zucchini growers have completed their harvest.

This year farmers are praying there isn’t an early frost, said a local grain elevator operator. She said the main crops need extra time this year because of the cool spring.