The weather has been holding up well for farmers in Michigan and 5.2 days were suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Aug. 31, according to the latest crop weather report from the NASS Great Lakes region office.

"Corn and soybeans conditions have held up pretty well since last month," said Kif Hurlbut, a regional deputy director at NASS. "We’ve gotten some rain release of late that’s of some concern; however, in some areas the soils are a little too dry."

Overall, warmer temperatures and showers provided favorable conditions for crop progress. An increase in growing-degree days and much needed moisture are expected to aid in the maturity progress of corn, soybeans and dry beans.

One negative to note is that relatively wet and humid conditions created problems for those cutting hay. Sugar beet harvest began at the end of the week. Pastures and livestock were doing well.

Farmers were spreading manure, baling straw, scouting for disease, spraying and getting ready for harvest. Corn condition was 72 percent good to excellent; soybean condition was 64 percent good to excellent; dry beans 73 percent good to excellent; sugar beets 80 percent good to excellent; and range and pasture 53 percent good to excellent.

For fruit, harvest of early fall apple varieties continued. Bartlett pear harvest continued. Tart cherry harvest ended. Several peach varieties were harvested. Several plum varieties were picked. Concord grape veraison was well under way. Fall raspberry harvest continued. Harvest of Elliott and other late-season blueberries continued as the harvest of Jersey was winding down.

For vegetables, cabbage, pepper and pumpkin harvest continued in the southeastern region, while pickle harvest was nearing completion.

Downy mildew has been found in west-central Michigan in cucurbits and is now present in 10 counties. Disease pressure remains high in vegetable crops across most of the state.