News
Michigan crops starting to curl
Late planted crops are starting to show signs of crop stress in Michigan from prolonged heat.
The USDA says corn condition dropped ten points to 55 percent good to excellent. Soybeans are eight percent emerged, and condition dropped nine points to 55 percent good to excellent.
Jonesville farmer Scott Welden says drought stress is a real possibility with continued hot and dry weather and he’ll have irrigators running. “The lighter soils that are not irrigated are definitely starting to show signs of drought stress. There is a bit of concern for folks in south-central Michigan and at Welden Farms that July could be very stressful for the crop.”
As of Sunday, 70 percent of oats, 66 percent of winter wheat, 54 percent of dry beans, and 56 percent of sugarbeets were in good to excellent condition.
Hot, dry weather is also affecting fruit sizing. Tart cherry harvest has started in the southwest and in early season blueberries. Peach harvest is less than a month away.
