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Michigan crop progress

 

The dust is flying as combines kick it into gear in Michigan, with soybean harvest underway. Sunny days in the 70s and cool nights in the 50s was perfect weather to begin.

The first full week of harvest found 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork, according to NASS. After this first week, approximately 10 percent of the soybean crop is harvested. Overall, 48 percent of the crop is rated good and 17 percent is given an excellent rating.

In all regions of the state, corn silage storage facilities are filled or filling up with just a few acres left to be chopped for silage.

Meanwhile, corn harvest has not started, with 85 percent of the crop dented but only 28 percent matured, and 53 percent of the corn in good condition, according to NASS.

Third-cutting alfalfa is finished, with some farmers working on a fourth cutting. This will be slim with limited rain, lately. Pastures are declining with short rain but still, 45 percent of the pastures are rated good. According to NASS, 5 percent of the winter wheat is planted already.

Apple harvest is well underway with several varieties, including the ever popular Honeycrisp. While they are more difficult to grow than other varieties, they are in plentiful supply this year.

Other varieties ready currently being harvested include Gala, Golden Supreme, Blondee, Pioneer Macintosh, Empire, Jonathan, Fuji, Jonagold and Cortland. Peach harvest has concluded.

By Melissa Hart

Michigan Correspondent

9/30/2015