News

Small grain harvest moving along

Warm, dry conditions in Michigan continue to stress crops but small grains harvests are moving along.

The USDA says the state’s corn crop condition is 40 percent good to excellent with 65 percent silking and 17 percent in the dough stage.

Soybeans are 71 percent blooming; 31 percent setting pods and condition is 45 percent good to excellent.

The wheat crop is now 89 percent harvested, barley is at 11 percent and oats are at 24 percent.

Dry beans are 66 percent blooming, 24 percent setting pods and rated 57 percent good to excellent.  Sugarbeet condition is 61 percent good to excellent. The third cutting of alfalfa is 16 percent complete.

Harvest of sweet corn, squash, melons, cole crops and potatoes is ongoing. Harvest of peaches, early apple varieties and blueberries is underway while growers hope for more rain and irrigate where possible.