Someone threw the seasonal switch in Michigan, as the long hot, humid summer said goodbye at the beginning of September and fall weather said hello. Frost advisories were part of the weather forecast last week as farmers took to the fields with a little more aggression.

In southern Michigan the beans are turning from green to yellow and the pumpkins are showing their bright orange color as they are being harvested throughout the southern tier of counties.

In the Thumb area, Ashley Messing reported harvesting corn silage is the big thing right now as farmers are in full “chopping” swing. She also reported soybean harvest is still a couple of weeks away.

Greg Thon from the mid-Michigan area said beans look good, with farmers looking for an average yield and early bean harvest should start next week. He also reported corn harvest is still a few weeks out, with mid-October looking like a good target date.

With the late bean-planting season, the potential for frost damage has increased and Mike Staton of Michigan State University extension advises farmers to learn how to reduce the adverse impacts of soybean fields damage by frost.

Bob Tritten of extension reported apple harvest is in full swing across the region. Galas are picking well ahead of McIntosh this year. Many folks are finishing up on Gala and have already started on a few earlier-maturing strains of McIntosh.

Honeycrisp are being spot-picked for their first picking. Apples are picking out a bit longer than what many growers anticipated.

Peach and pear harvest is now complete. Stanley plum harvest is ongoing. Fall red raspberry harvest is continuing, blueberry harvest is pretty well wrapped up across the region and table grape and Concord grapes are being harvested now.

Where the vegetables grow on the eastern side of Michigan, Hannah Stevens of MSU extension reported while rainfall amounts have varied a great deal, last week brought frequent showers, in some cases heavy, to the region. Amounts varied from 0.7-1.25 inches. Coupled with cooler temperatures, some fields have been wet enough to complicate harvest operations. Most vegetable growers are hoping for a late frost.

Excellent quality sweet corn is still being shipped. Worm pressure varies, but growers report few problems with infested ears, particularly in Bt cultivars. The best snap beans of the season are being harvested now.

Cool-weather crops of cauliflower and broccoli are of similar good quality, although worm pressure is high. Supplies of local melons have declined and this may be due in part to the appearance of Phytopthora fruit rot in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, this is also affecting gourds and peppers and possibly other susceptible species. Raised beds and other cultural practices may be delaying the appearance of this destructive disease, but is not eliminating it.

Tomatoes are ripening faster than can be picked and while vines remain healthy, growth cracks and other physiological problems are resulting in cull fruit in some varieties. Nevertheless, the quality and quantity of the marketable crop is excellent and there are many bushels of “canners” for sale.

Michigan has, fortunately, had beautiful weekend weather, which brings out customers for farm stands, markets and farmers’ markets.

Most of Iowa remained dry for the week of Sept. 5-11 as the state’s farmers continued harvesting corn for silage, according to the Sept. 12 Iowa Crop & Weather report.

“Silage harvest is mostly complete and seed corn harvest is in full swing,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. “A few folks have started to combine corn and soybeans, and with drier weather, we are likely to see more in the next few weeks.”

The report said corn moisture levels remain “too high for widespread corn for grain harvest, although many farmers are making preparations.” State Meteorologist Harry Hillaker said Iowa recorded its driest week in 30 weeks (since early February), with measurable precipitation restricted to extreme southeastern Iowa.

The report said nearly all corn has advanced to at least the dough stage, with 93 percent at or beyond the dent stage and one-third now mature. Nearly half of soybean fields are turning color, with just 8 percent dropping leaves, the report added.

Third-cutting alfalfa hay harvest advanced to 90 percent complete, the report said. But there are now concerns about adequate hay supplies for the upcoming winter and spring.

While soybeans are starting to turn in many of his area’s fields, Jeff Blauwett, agronomy technology specialist at Farmers Elevator Co-op in Doon, said “it seems like we are also seeing some very late-arriving sclerotinia white mold” in the Larchwood area.

“I don’t anticipate it being a large-yield factor in most fields, and it likely didn’t start progressing until our weather cooled off in August,” he said, “but it is showing up. Few beans in the area are still standing, which could cause some harvest issues later.”

After several straight weeks of below-normal rainfall, most of the Commonwealth received some welcome precipitation thanks to Tropical Storm Lee, according to Tom Priddy, University of Kentucky extension agricultural meteorologist.

“The rains were beneficial for a good portion of the state, with average rainfall totaling nearly two inches statewide. The outlook for double-crop soybeans took a positive turn in the face of what was becoming a pessimistic situation. A few more good soaking rains can help turn around pastures and start to refill ponds,” he said.

Corn harvested was at 19 percent, compared to 51 percent last year and 25 percent on average. Fifty-eight percent of the corn acreage was considered mature, well behind last year’s 85 percent and the five-year average of 71. Both corn dent and reaching the dough stage were behind last year’s and the five-year averages.

The expectations of the crop in the field remain mixed, according to NASS. There has been a continued fear that both the size of the ear and the kernel fill have been severely compromised by the hot summer.

Only 22 percent of soybeans were reported to be shedding leaves, compared to 2010’s 50 percent and the five-year average of 24 percent. Farmers are concerned whether the recent rains will be able to stem the decline in their soybeans and start filling the pods.

Priddy said no major disease problems have been reported in tobacco, but there is considerable concern about weight and quality. The past week has greatly improved the curing conditions for hanging tobacco. The housed tobacco condition was rated at 52 percent good.