Hot, Dry Weather Worries Michigan Vegetable Farmers Michigan
"Farm Markets"09/03/2008
Michigan Ag Connection - 09/03/2008
Seven days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Sunday, according to the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office.
Through Labor Day, precipitation varied from 0.02 inches in the northwestern Lower Peninsula to 0.26 inches in the central Lower Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from 3 degrees below normal in the east central Lower Peninsula to 1 degree above normal in the western and eastern Upper Peninsula and the northwestern Lower Peninsula. Abnormally dry conditions remained in most areas as very little rain fell in the past seven days.
A farmer in the west central noted, "In the last week we have had only a trace of rain and for the month of August we have had 0.95 inches of rain. Corn, soybeans, and hay are being hurt due to the dry weather." Crops were suffering from lack of moisture, but some normal ripening was taking place. "In many cases, when viewing the fields, it is difficult to determine if much of the change in the fields is due to 'true maturing' or 'premature maturing' being caused by the extremely extended dry period throughout the area," a grower in the south central reported.
The majority of the corn crop was in the dough stage and a good deal was in the dent stage. The crop continued to dry, causing some growers to chop their corn for silage. Soybeans have set pods and leaves were turning. Alfalfa harvest continued with a second cutting nearing completion and some growers getting a third cutting. There were reports of a short third cutting, as regrowth has been slow. Dry bean leaves were turning and some were shedding leaves. Harvest of early varieties was just beginning in some fields. Winter wheat growers continued to prepare their fields for planting. Sugarbeet growers were anticipating a very good crop and were looking forward to harvest. Harvest of oats was essentially finished.
The harvest of early season apples wound down, and picking of Galas will begin this week. Elliot and other late season blueberry varieties harvests continued. Anthracnose rot has been a problem. Concord grape vineyards that were damaged by frost still had a lot of green berries, but veraison was otherwise finished in the southwest. Spraying occurred for protection from downy mildew. Peach harvest continued; fruit size of late season varieties was reduced by the dryness. Bartlett pear harvest began, and plum picking continued. Fall raspberry harvest was underway.
High temperatures and lack of rainfall have kept vegetable producers worried about crop conditions and decreased production, especially in the southern and western parts of the State. Celery harvest continued on schedule in the southwest part of the State. Crop experts reported that celery quality was good but most growers were irrigating due to the very dry soil conditions.
Tomato harvest continued, with some producers reporting a disappointing crop.
Harvest continued this week for potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots, peppers, sweet corn and snap beans. Pumpkins and winter squash continued to develop in the fields, while harvest for fall cabbage and other cold crops began in some areas.