News

Harvest in Michigan slows

Excessive wet conditions have made the last of harvest sluggish in Michigan.

Thumb area farmer Paul Shultz tells Brownfield yields have been surprising for how dry the season was this summer.  “We were getting really worried seeing the corn dry up here in July but then, boom.  Here comes August and September with nice moisture, it really finished the beans out.  It was an excellent bean harvest and a very good corn year.”  He just wrapped up harvest this week.

The USDA says less than three days were suitable for fieldwork last week.  Corn harvest is 67 percent complete, on pace with last year and ahead of the five-year average.  Soybeans are 79 percent harvested, behind last year and average.

Sugarbeet harvest is 87 percent complete.  Winter wheat planting is 92 percent complete with 71 percent of the crop emerged.

AUDIO: Interview with Paul Shultz