Much needed rain fell over parts of Michigan last week, although a short trip down the road yielded vastly differing rainfall totals.

Zeeland cash grain farmer Vic Wolfert was pleased with the 1.1 inches of rain, but other parts of western Michigan received a half-inch and even less in some areas. Much of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) and northern Lower Michigan remain dry and in need of significant rainfall.

Temperature took a rollercoaster ride from highs in the humid low 90s, plummeting into the 50s during more than one night. Parts of the western U.P. hit nighttime temperatures of the mid- to low 40s.

“What we don’t need is an early frost,” Wolfert said. “A warm September would be helpful, too.”

NASS reported about 75 percent of pods had set in the soybean crop and that corn was well into the dough stage. Wolfert said those statistics reflected the status of his fields, but feels crops are still behind where they should be for this time of year.

NASS reported the dry conditions were a factor in significant progress in both wheat and oat harvest, and that barley is drying down nicely.

There are scattered reports of white mold in beans and nitrogen deficiency in corn.