News
Cold, wet conditions delaying Michigan fieldwork
Wet and muddy conditions persist in Michigan with snow and icy rain reported over the past week.
In the first crop report of the season, USDA says about five percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought, mostly in southern counties of the Upper Peninsula and northwest Lower. Topsoil moisture is 99 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil moisture is at 92 percent.
Winter wheat condition was reported at 38 percent good to excellent with standing water in many areas.
Michigan State University’s wheat breeder Eric Olsen says locally developed varieties should be able to handle conditions like this season.
“The majority of the varieties in Michigan are tolerant to these environmental challenges—wet conditions, freeze-thaw conditions,” he says.
The colder than normal spring has delayed most fruit development which USDA says is still mostly dormant.
