Hot & Humid Enables Superb Growing Conditions Across Michigan

Tag : japanese sweet potato

Michigan Ag Connection - 07/22/2008

Five days were suitable for fieldwork during the past week,according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office. Precipitationvaried from 0.43 inches in the central Lower Peninsula to 2.24inches in the northeastern Lower Peninsula. Average temperaturesranged from normal in the western Upper Peninsula to 2 degreesabove normal in the northwestern, west central, central, andsoutheastern Lower Peninsula.

Hot, humid weather was experienced in most locations across theState. The weather allowed for superb growing conditions. A farmerin the west central region reported, "The corn sure enjoyed thishot, humid weather with some tassels being observed this week. Youcan almost watch it grow!" Rains were observed and welcomed in manylocations. "We continue to receive very timely rains over most ofthe sugarbeet growing area. Rainfall has been scattered and heavyat times, but the crop has only been made better with last week'shigh temperatures and good rains," a reporter in the Thumb regionstated.

Crops responded well to the warmth and humidity this past week.Rains boosted growth in some crops but hindered others. Corn grewwell in the warm, humid weather and was mostly in good to excellentcondition. Ears were silking quickly. The warmth was reported toimprove soybean condition in many areas following a slow start thisyear, although some were still in fair condition. Winter wheatharvest was approaching completion in some areas of the State. Inother areas, humidity and rain have kept moisture levels high, sofarmers were waiting for drier weather to harvest. Regrowth ofalfalfa benefited from the weather. Many growers were able toharvest a second cutting this week, but rains and moisture slowedharvest in other areas. Dry beans were in fair to good condition.Some farmers reported damage from excess moisture. The sugarbeetcrop looked good. Development of Cercospora was the primary concernat this time. Oats were turning color quickly with harvest justbeginning in select areas. The majority of the barley crop was ingood condition.

Apples continued to size well in the northwest and west central. Inthe southeast, apples grew to 2.3 inches; apple maggot emergencewas widespread. Blueberry harvest began on early varieties in thesoutheast. In the southwest, blueberry harvest was in full swing.Peaches grew to 2.25 inches in the southeast, as harvest of earlyvarieties began in the southwest. Pears were 1.5 inches indiameter. Plums continued to size well, with most around 1.1 inchesin the southeast. Japanese plums were being picked in thesouthwest. Sweet cherry harvest was underway in the northwest;additional rainfall increased grower concern for fruit cracking aswell as brown rot and cherry leaf spot infections. Tart cherryharvest began in the northwest and west central; harvest ended inthe southwest and was approximately three-quarters complete in thesoutheast. Summer red raspberry harvest was in full swing in thesoutheast with some gaps in ripening taking place; harvest slowedin the southwest. Grapes were nearing berry touch in the northwest.

Warm, dry weather has been good for growth, and even the cropsstressed by earlier flooding were looking better. Asparagus newfern growth was progressing well. Cabbage growth and harvest wasmoving along well with good quality in many fields. For carrots,foliar diseases seemed to be threatening and many farmers begantreating for bacterial blight. Cauliflower was planted in fieldswhere sweet corn had been harvested. Celery was doing better andgrowing rapidly after a period of excessive water in fields.Cucumbers, melons, squash, and zucchini were maturing. The firstfew rounds of picking were underway in cucumber fields. Eggplantsexperienced problems with Colorado potato beetles. Althoughflooding damaged some fields, onion growth was recovering. Bulbdiameter was approaching two inches in some fields. Peppers werematuring well, and preliminary rounds of harvesting took place.Potato canopy closure and tuber bulking were occurring at a fastpace. Radish growth and harvest continued. The second crop appearedto be doing well. Summer snap bean plantings were growing normallyin most areas. Sweet corn was being harvested in the southwest.Some plantings had high numbers of Japanese beetles feeding on theleaves. Greenhouse grown and market tomatoes were being harvested.Processing tomato fields were developing well.

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