There were 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending June 21, according to the Great Lakes Regional office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Producers spent much of the week waiting for fields to dry out so that tillage, spraying, and haymaking could continue. Some reporters indicated crop condition significantly worsened in areas where rain was excessive and drainage was poor. There were reports from across the State of corn and soybeans turning yellow and under stress and dry edible beans requiring replanting. Some growers in the Thumb indicated that they were starting to see damage in sugarbeets where heavy thunderstorms caused ponding. Hay producers have had few opportunities to bale dry hay between rains. Wheat still looked good this week as some of the crop was starting to turn color, but the wet weather had some concerned about the potential for disease. Oats and barley were progressing and expected to be in the boot stage soon.
Excessive recent rainfall had fruit growers across the State concerned about disease management and damage to young orchards. Strawberry harvest continued in the south; heavy rainfall was expected to bring an early end to harvest in some fields. Blueberries were sizing well with the rain, but water was standing in many fields. Raspberry bloom was winding down, and fruit was developing rapidly. Blackberry bloom continued. Saskatoon fruits were sizing and taking on a reddish cast. In the south, bloom was ending in juice grapes and was underway in wine grapes. In the north, bloom was expected to begin soon in wine grapes.
Apple fruits were up to 1-1/4 inches in diameter for main season varieties and up to 1-1/2 inches in diameter for summer apple varieties; June drop was in full swing for many growers in the southeast. Bartlett pears were up to 1-1/8 inches in diameter and Harrow Sweet were 7/8 inches; growers were removing waterspouts from trees in order to discourage pear psylla populations. Peaches were at 1.25 inches in diameter with pits still soft. The largest apricot fruit were over two inches in diameter. Japanese plums were about 1 inch in diameter and European plums were up to 3/4 inches in diameter. Sweet cherries were at 16 to 20 millimeters; heavy drop began in the southwest. In the northwest, frost scars were evident in many sweet cherry blocks. Tart cherries were 12 to 16 millimeters in diameter and were turning straw color.
Early planted potatoes in the eastern and central regions made good progress last week. Tassels were emerging from early planted sweet corn in the southwest. Onion development in the west continued to move along nicely. Tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplanting made significant progress in the southwest and was nearing completion. Carrot development in Oceana County was moving along nicely. Disease pressure continued to be the main area of concern for vegetable producers across the State. Insect pests have shown significant development and scouting activities have increased.
Source - http://www.farmersadvance.com/
