Scattered frost in portions of Michigan last week halted crop growth in many low-lying areas.

In his weekly Crop Advisory Team alert, Michigan State University extension educator Paul Gross reported temperatures that dipped just below freezing last week caused the most damage to late-planted soybeans.

“It is too early to determine extent of the yield loss,” he reported. “Early-planted fields will be ready to harvest late next week if the weather cooperates. Most farmers are optimistic on the yield potential.”

According to the latest agricultural summary from the Michigan field office of NASS, corn continued to mature and was mainly in the R4-R6 stage. Some corn is drying because of lack of rain, rather than maturity. Silage harvest was in full swing, especially in areas that experienced frost.

“Corn planted in June still needs a little more time,” Gross reported. “Corn silage harvest is wrapping up, with most reporting good yields and quality.”

Alfalfa harvest continued, with farmers reporting 80 percent of the third cutting was done, while only 21 percent of the fourth cutting had been harvested.

Wheat planting is just getting under way in summer-fallowed fields. Many growers were waiting to harvest other crops before planting wheat.

Dry bean harvest has begun and is a little behind normal due to later planting. Sugar beet harvest began last week on a limited basis, with farmers reporting dry fields are making harvest difficult. Potato harvest continued.

Despite parts of Iowa receiving a hard freeze the week of Sept. 12-18, corn harvest is advancing, with many farmers concentrating on getting July 11 derecho-damaged corn out first.

“Harvest is just starting to really get under way as farmers wait for the crop to dry down and focus on harvesting fields with wind or hail damage,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. “The forecast calls for sunshine this week, which will help the crop dry, and harvest will likely start in earnest as a result.”

The Sept. 19 Iowa Crop & Weather report stated nearly all the corn has advanced to at least the dent stage, with 60 percent now mature. Corn moisture content stands at 29 percent, with corn being harvested at 24 percent moisture content.

The report also said corn lodging is heavier than last year at this time because of the widespread winds during August, with ear droppage a larger problem than last fall.

The report said soybean harvest is at least a week away for most farmers, although scattered fields have already been harvested. Just over three-quarters of soybeans have turned color, with one-quarter of Iowa’s soybean fields dropping leaves. Third-cutting alfalfa hay harvest advanced to 94 percent complete.

State Meteorologist Harry Hillaker said although the recent freeze was not as widespread as in September 2007, “a few places were much colder in 2011, with Mason City Airport reporting a low of 26 degrees. (It’s) Iowa’s lowest reading for so early in the season, since 1955.”

But Nick Himba, agronomist for Farmers Co-op Society in Sanborn, said “yield loses will be minimal” with the recent frost: “If we would have had a killing frost, I believe yield losses could have been much higher on later-maturing fields.”