Mi-crop-weather

State
Michigan Crop Weather

Released 
May 9, 2005

Week Ending Date
May 8, 2005

Issue
MI-CW2005

Agricultural Summary



 Planting Progress Ahead of Normal

Six days were suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 8, according
to the USDA-NASS-Michigan Statistical Office. A majority of the State remained
abnormally dry. Below normal temperatures in the Lower Peninsula continued to
hinder the emergence of crops in the field. Precipitation amounts ranged from
0.02 inches in the central Lower Peninsula to 0.36 inches in the western Upper
Peninsula. Average temperatures ranged from normal in the Upper Peninsula to
6 degrees below normal in the southwestern Lower Peninsula. Weather conditions
remained diverse for farmers in the Lower Peninsula. Producers in the western
Lower Peninsula noted, "Things don't look too bad but we desperately need
moisture," and "we could use an all day soaker." A farmer in the eastern Lower
Peninsula commented, "The air temperature finally warmed up and field
conditions dried up for fieldwork to continue."




Field Crops Report

                  
Cool, dry weather continued across the State. Early week frost did minor
damage to field crops.  Planting was ahead of normal for most crops with
warmer temperatures and additional precipitation needed to improve emergence.
Barley and corn planting continued and was well ahead of previous years.
Soybean planting also continued to progress nicely but with little or no
emergence due to low soil temperatures. Sugarbeets began to emerge. There have
been reports of minor damage from frost.  Alfalfa growth was slow under cool
conditions and the crop could use some  rain. Winter wheat stands were highly
variable across the State. There have been reports of yellow colored wheat due
to poor  weather conditions. Oat planting was completed and fields looked
good. 


Fruit Report

Tree fruits were typically 3 to 7 days ahead of normal development, depending
on location. Most varieties of apples were in full bloom last week in the
southwest. Growers remained concerned about the possible effects of recent
freezing temperatures on the crop's potential. In the Ridge area, bloom was
underway on early varieties of apples, which showed varying degrees of freeze
damage. In the west central, apples have reached the pink stage. In the
northwest, apples were in pre-pink to pink. Cherries seem to have tolerated
the recent freezing temperatures better than apples, however pollination is of
concern. In the southwest, tart cherries continued blooming while sweet
cherries showed good growth. In the Ridge area, sweet cherries continued
blooming and showed some petal fall. In the west central, tart cherries were
in the popcorn stage, and sweet cherries were in full bloom. Tart cherries
were in popcorn stage in the northwest. In the southeast, tart cherries were
in full bloom, and sweet cherries were at petal fall. Peaches had reached
petal fall in the Ridge area and were entering petal fall in the west central.
In the southwest, blueberries were at pink stage, and leaves had unfolded. In
the southeast, there was some bloom occurring in blueberries.



Vegetables Report

Vegetable growers' planting activities were progressing steadily for much of
the State.  However, in some areas the winter-like conditions of low
temperatures slowed the planting process and limited crop development.  Some
growers continued irrigating for germination, because many areas in the region
have had little rainfall. Due to the freezing temperatures in some areas,
damage was caused to the emerged asparagus.  In some areas, it appears that
asparagus will finally start harvest season after a long delay.  Some damage
was also caused to emerged sweet corn. 




Soil Moisture and Crop Condition Tables

    Soil moisture for week ending 05/08/05
---------------------------------------------
         :  Very  :        :        :
 Stratum : short  : Short  :Adequate:Surplus
---------------------------------------------
         :              Percent
         :
Topsoil  :   14       31       53       2
Subsoil  :    7       29       58       6
---------------------------------------------




          Crop condition for week ending 05/08/05
-----------------------------------------------------------
             :  Very  :        :        :        :
     Crop    :  poor  :  Poor  :  Fair  :  Good  :Excellent
-----------------------------------------------------------
             :                   Percent
             :
Pasture      :   0        12       38       41        9
Winter Wheat :   3         4       24       61        8
-----------------------------------------------------------


           Crop progress for week ending 05/08/05
------------------------------------------------------------
                            : This  : Last  : Last  :5-year
            Crop            : week  : week  : year  :average
------------------------------------------------------------
                            :            Percent
                            :
Asparagus, harvested        :  12      10      16      18
Barley, planted             :  72      70      66      65
Barley, emerged             :  38      23      46      44
Corn, planted               :  62      36      57      42
Corn, emerged               :   3       1       9       6
Oats, planted               :  94      89      87      80
Oats, emerged               :  69      34      61      52
Potatoes, planted           :  56      21      30      29
Potatoes, emerged           :   1       0       3      NA
Soybeans, planted           :  25       8      21      15
------------------------------------------------------------




Contact Information

U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Michigan Statistical Office
P.O. Box 26248
Lansing, MI 48909-6248
517-324-5300; or 800-453-7501

Fax 517-324-5299
email: nass-mi@nass.usda.gov
Web Page: http:/www.nass.usda.gov/mi


Weather Information Table

                         Michigan Weather Summary for Week Ending 05/08/05 1/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                           :Cumulative growing:
               :        Temperature        :  degree days 2/  :            Precipitation
               :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :        :        :         :     :     :      :    :     :     :       :   Normal
    Station    :        :        :Departure:     :     :      :This:Last :Last : Since :-------------
               :Maximum :Minimum :  from   :2005 :2004 :Normal:week: two :four :April 1: Since : For
               :        :        : normal  :     :     :      :    :weeks:weeks:       :April 1:month
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ironwood       :   73       27               187   109         0.33 0.41  0.49   1.12
Marquette      :   76       26               151    77         0.15 0.77  1.42   2.52
Stephenson     :   71       24               172   176         0.23 0.40  0.67   1.50
Western UP     :   78       22        0      161   101   119   0.36 0.59  0.86   1.58    3.11   3.37
               :
Cornell        :   68       26               141    97         0.19 1.11  1.39   1.52
Sault St Marie :   66       27               119    30         0.49 0.76  1.16   1.73
Eastern UP     :   73       23        0      130    57    65   0.31 0.80  1.27   1.76    3.33   3.01
               :
Beulah         :   82       31               237   141         0.02 0.42  1.33   1.33
Lake City      :   76       21               199   144         0.15 0.32  1.19   1.20
Old Mission    :   81       27               190   105         0.06 0.36  1.25   1.25
Pellston       :   78       19               169   114         0.10 0.24  1.32   1.42
Northwest      :   82       19       -2      189   118   147   0.09 0.33  1.25   1.27    3.43   2.61
               :
Alpena         :   68       21               130   118         0.30 0.70  1.94   2.02
Houghton Lake  :   76       22               201   157         0.09 0.15  0.71   0.77
Rogers City    :   73       21               172   118         0.21 0.46  1.47   1.53
Northeast      :   76       18       -3      178   140   134   0.19 0.42  1.42   1.48    3.34   2.76
               :
Fremont        :   81       24               249   214         0.07 0.16  0.47   0.47
Hart           :   79       33               229   175         0.00 0.18  0.67   0.71
Muskegon       :   78       29               233   198         0.05 0.26  0.48   0.48
West Central   :   81       24       -2      235   188   177   0.04 0.20  0.47   0.48    3.80   2.67
               :
Alma           :   78       25               239   235         0.03 0.21  0.68   0.68
Big Rapids     :   78       25               237   213         0.00 0.00  0.00   0.00
Central        :   79       24       -4      238   224   196   0.02 0.16  0.52   0.52    3.86   2.79
               :
Bad Axe        :   74       29               182   172         0.25 0.64  1.99   1.99
Pigeon         :   78       29               159   164         0.16 0.53  1.00   1.02
Saginaw        :   75       26               183   211         0.28 0.58  1.63   1.65
Standish       :   74       25               182   194         0.13 0.44  1.49   1.50
East Central   :   78       25       -4      170   190   186   0.20 0.52  1.53   1.54    3.23   2.63
               :
Fennville      :   82       29               262   207         0.08 0.14  0.68   0.70
Grand Rapids   :   81       26               256   271         0.19 0.32  0.99   1.00
Holland        :   82       31               256   224         0.08 0.28  0.90   0.90
South Bend, IN :   83       26               296   301         0.00 0.07  0.99   1.03
Watervliet     :   83       27               278   254         0.10 0.22  0.87   0.89
Southwest      :   85       25       -4      275   265   221   0.09 0.21  0.90   0.92    4.00   3.01
               :
Belding        :   79       30               248   235         0.07 0.22  1.30   1.30
Coldwater      :   79       25               243   247         0.07 0.00  0.80   0.81
Lansing        :   77       29               256   252         0.12 0.18  1.17   1.18
South Central  :   81       25       -5      256   265   221   0.08 0.19  0.81   0.82    3.81   2.92
               :
Detroit        :   73       31               242   265         0.04 0.50  1.58   1.81
Flint          :   75       23               233   260         0.07 0.23  1.37   1.37
Romeo          :   74       27               221   236         0.00 0.82  1.98   2.25
Tipton         :   76       25               257   256         0.01 0.43  1.36   1.43
Toledo,  OH    :   77       25               248   293         0.01 0.59  2.26   2.43
Southeast      :   79       21       -6      239   261   206   0.06 0.48  1.97   2.13    3.81   2.85
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Issued by the Federal/State Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service in cooperation with the U.S.
    Department of Commerce, Michigan State University's Cooperative Extension Service, Agricultural
    Meteorologist, Department of Geography, and Crop Advisory Team ALERTS.
2/  Growing degree days (GDD) is the sum of daily mean temperatures minus 50 per day, 86 maximum
    And 50 minimum. The GDD is accumulative from April 1.