The frequency of gully-washing rains has decreased in Michigan, giving farmers an opportunity to accomplish field operations that have been delayed because of the wet weather.

According the NASS report for the Great Lakes Region, there were 5.3 days with suitable conditions for fieldwork during the week ending July 5. While soil moisture is generally plentiful, degree days are the missing element at this point in the growing season. Some southern counties report fields are still too wet to complete spraying.

Second-cutting alfalfa has begun and first-crop dry hay is mostly finished. Wheat continues to change color and ripen, although some remains tipped from the previous week’s storms. Oats are slightly behind the five-year average for maturity stage for this time of year.

Cool days and chilly nights continue to delay corn growth and most crops are slightly behind in development. Some areas have significant yellowing and striping due to excessive moisture. About 2 percent of the corn is silked at this time.

The pleasant weather last week added 25.4 growing day degrees base 42, 22 growing day degrees base 45 and 16.3 base 50 growing degree days to the year’s accumulated growing degree days. Similar heat accumulations are expected this week, according to Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University extension fruit crop educator in southwestern Michigan.