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Unruly weather beating up crops

Ponding

Severe thunderstorms last week took their toll on Michigan field crops.

Some farmers reported beaten down wheat, sideways corn, leaves stripped from soybeans and even sugarbeets sucked from fields in the June 22 storms.  For the week ending Sunday, precipitation across the state ranged from a tenth of an inch to nearly five inches.  USDA NASS reports 42 percent of topsoil moisture is surplus and 36 percent of subsoil moisture is surplus, down slightly from last week.  Continued wet conditions also have some corn and soybean fields under water.  Disease challenges include scab and rust in wheat, and molding hay.  Areas of dry beans need to be replanted.

The corn condition is reported 66 percent good to excellent, dropping almost 10 percent from last week.  Soybean condition is rated 60 percent good to excellent, sliding down 8 more percent.  Winter wheat condition is 65 percent good to excellent, 26 percent mature.  Sugarbeets gained a percentage point in condition, now 80 percent good to excellent.  Dry edible beans are now 88 percent planted and 65 percent emerged, with condition rated 48 percent good to excellent.  Alfalfa harvest continues to be slowed by wet conditions, first cutting is 83 percent complete, second cutting was reported at 11 percent.

Michigan’s vegetable crops are vulnerable to disease outbreaks.  A bacterial pathogen advisory is in effect for onions.  Cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed 10 days ahead of normal.  Early season potatoes are being harvested. Greenhouse tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumber and pea harvest is underway in the southwest.

Strawberry harvest is wrapping up, quality is a concern for some farmers.  Tart cherries have limited tree damage from storms.  Wind-whip and fruit cracking in sweet cherries was reported.  Early season apricots and peaches are nearing harvest.

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