News

Cold & wet for most Michigan farmers

The Great Lakes Regional field office reports there were 1.7 days suitable for fieldwork in Michigan last week. Wet ground and cold conditions kept farmers out of the field. Two snow events were reported in northern counties. According to the field office, winter wheat remains dormant or under snow cover in the north. In the southeast, winter wheat has started to green up thanks to rain and warmer temperatures. Winter wheat conditions for the state were reported at 43 percent good to excellent. A few acres of oats were planted on sandy soils in central and southern regions, but sugarbeet planting has yet to begin. Both crops are behind the five year average of 17 percent planted for this week.