Michigan dry bean planting was ahead of schedule for the spring of 1999. Warm weather with adequate rainfall throughout the growing season pushed maturity and dry bean harvest was completed ahead of schedule. Yields averaged 2,100 pounds per acre, up 600 pounds from 1998. Michigan continues to lead the country in Navy, Cranberry, and Black Bean production. Michigan dry beans are consumed throughout the world and are largely shipped to the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Mexico, and Italy.
Dry Beans are and continue to be an important and valuable commodity to Michigan agriculture.
All other Total 1,000 cwt. The yield of 130 bushels per acre was a record high. Farmers harvested 235,000 acres of corn for silage with an average yield of 17.5 tons per acre. Planting of corn in Michigan began in earnest the last week of April. It was ahead of the average schedule throughout May and was virtually completed by June 10.