The rain held off for an entire week in the Mitten State, making farmers feel as if drought conditions were present. While the moisture has been good this growing season it has made getting hay harvested difficult and extended wheat harvest longer than expected.

Wheat harvest was in full swing across Michigan and moisture levels were reported as high, and some growers reported vomitoxin issues with a dock in pay when delivered to the elevator. Straw baling is under way in most fields but even that had a delay because of moisture issues.

Second-cutting alfalfa is mostly done across the state with a few fields left to harvest. This week was one of the few stretches of dry weather to accomplish this task.

Warmer temperatures statewide were beneficial to corn and soybeans, which both saw significant growth, although there were some reports of uneven growth and drowned-out fields from excessive rain. Early-planted dry beans are blooming, but some reported problems with root rot thanks to the rain.

Blueberry hand harvest and machine harvest were nearly complete across southern counties; berry size was excellent and harvest volumes were up. Sweet cherry and tart cherry harvest were nearly complete in the south.

In the northwest, sweet cherry harvest began; the crop was reported as variable across the region, but fruit quality was generally good for those with a crop.