Wet weather halts fieldwork

There were 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan during the week ending June 14, according to the Great Lakes Regional office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Wet weather and isolated hailstorms late in the week brought many field activities to a halt, as saturated fields could not support equipment for spraying, tillage, or haymaking.

Recent rains were welcome to fruit growers, but also provided challenges for disease control. Apple fruits were 1.25 inches in diameter for main season varieties and 1.5 inches in diameter for summer apple varieties; fruit was sizing well due to good rains at many farms. Peaches were out of shuck split with sizes up to 1.25 inches in diameter. Bartlett pears averaged just over 1 inch in diameter while Harrow Sweet were 3/4 to 7/8 inches in diameter.

In the south, sweet cherries were 13-18 millimeters in diameter while tart cherries were 10-12 millimeters in diameter. While crop potential still looked good in the southwest, many cherry growers in the northwest were expecting between 40 and 60 percent of a full crop. Japanese plums were 7/8 inches in diameter while European plums were 0.75 inches in diameter. Apricots were over 1.5 inches in diameter; growers were thinning fruit. Strawberry harvest was underway in the south; fruit size and quality was reported to be excellent. Raspberry bloom continued and blackberry bloom has begun.

Saskatoon fruits were sizing a bit, but fruit-infesting insect activity continued. Blueberry fruit were sizing well; some blueberry fields were expected to have a light crop due to winter injury to canes and flower buds.

Asparagus harvest neared completion in the west central region and most processors have shut down for the season. Potato planting finished in the central region and cultivation began on early planted fields. Many growers in the central and southwest completed their last plantings of sweet corn. Onion development in the west was moving along nicely. Tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplanting made significant progress in the southwest. Watermelon transplanting was completed and snap peas were being harvested. Disease pressure continued to be the main area of concern for vegetable producers across the State.

Source: farmersadvance.com