Scattered rains throughout the state kept crops growing well in the state, with some damaging storms in southern lower Michigan rounding out the week.

The corn crop in lower Michigan looks as good as any in the Corn Belt and soybeans are following suit from shore to shore. According to NASS, corn silking is 95 percent complete, soybean bloom is 96 percent complete and beans setting pods is 70 percent complete.

Second-cutting hay is 80 percent finished, while some growers are onto third cutting, but humidity continues to be an issue. Wheat harvest is 94 percent complete and growers in the southern part of the state continue to report issues with vomitoxin in the wheat. Precipitation helped crops that were showing stress from drier conditions, particularly soybeans.

There were some reports of damage from the hail and heavy winds, though in limited amounts. Growers in the Thumb are preparing to begin dry bean and sugar beet harvest soon.

In the northeastern section of the state Michigan State University extension educator James Dedecker reported scattered showers early in the week, providing a fair soaking in some areas, while others didn’t receive any rain. That part of Michigan is currently 1-2 inches behind its average rainfall for the last 30 days, with an area from Cheboygan, Otsego and Crawford counties west to the lakeshore officially "abnormally dry."

Wheat harvest is nearly complete in this region thanks to the recent pattern of dry, sunny days. Corn has reached the blister stage in most fields and cobs are beginning to fill out with kernels. Other fields that are a little behind are continuing pollination, mostly in the silk stage.

In northeastern bean fields, stands are beginning to close canopy and weed control is good.

Peach harvests were under way in the southwest; sunny days and cool nights have helped peaches develop excellent sweetness. Pears continued to develop nicely.