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Michigan growing season ahead of normal

Michigan State University says the state’s growing degree days are slightly ahead of normal.

Enviroweather coordinator Beth Bishop tells Brownfield data collected from weather stations across the state indicate temperatures are three to seven days ahead for the season.  “There are a couple of locations that are a little bit cooler than normal, but most of the state is ahead of normal.”

She says the Enviroweather system has undergone some updates this year.  “It’s a little bit more precise as far as location goes.  And the other thing that we did, we added an additional map that just shows, with color, what the normal degree days are for this particular date.”

Readings are automatically taken at least every hour and this season data will be complied with information from the National Weather Service to provide farmers more accurate and precise details to assist with crop management decisions.

AUDIO: Interview with Beth Bishop