West central Michigan field crop regional report – June 13, 2013

Soil conditions in the west central region were dry enough for some field work this week.

Weather

High temperatures ranged from 65.2 to 79.1 degrees Fahrenheit at Entrican, Mich., with lows from 46.6 to 59.7 F. Minimum soil temperature ranged from the upper 50s to low 60s. Light rain showers produced another 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain on Monday, June 10, and an additional 0.75 to 1 inch on Wednesday night (June 12) and Thursday morning (June 13). Soil conditions were dry enough to allow some field work this week in many parts of the west central region.

Crops

Nearly everyone has now thrown in the towel on additional corn planting. Growth stages range from spike to V6. Not all intended acres were planted and will now shift to other crops. The primary growth issues encountered have been related to environmental stress.

Wheat is flowering and ranges from early to late flowering, depending on the field and in many cases the area of the field. Applications of fungicides are being made by many growers, primarily due to fear of head scab development. Computer models such as the one from the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center are showing much of the area to be at a low risk as of June 12. Leaf diseases such as powdery mildew are still at low levels. No reports or observations of armyworm have been made.

Soybean planting continues this week with 80 percent of the crop in. Stands are generally good where soybeans have emerged, but development has been slow. Several early planted fields have the first trifoliate expanded.

Alfalfa harvest continues; very little dry hay has been made so far. Alfalfa weevil is present at varying levels. Michigan State University Extension advises growers to continue scouting for this pest, especially if harvest is not imminent.

Dry bean planting has begun in the west central region and will likely increase next week, weather permitting.

In potatoes, hilling and cultivation is in progress on early planted fields and potato planting continues for several growers. Replanting is occurring on a number of early planted fields due to poor stands. Colorado potato beetle adults are active and egg masses were observed this week.

Volunteer potato numbers are down from last year, but they are still present and emerging. Growers should scout rotation crops and apply control measures to eliminate volunteers. In addition, continue to monitor cull and rock piles as well as waste potato disposal areas and destroy volunteers in a timely manner.

Other Michigan State University Extension field crop regional reports from this week:

Did you find this article useful?