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Dry areas double in Michigan

A mid-Michigan farmer considers himself lucky as dry weather continues to stress crops throughout the southern half of the state’s lower peninsula.

Stockbridge crop farmer Tim Boring tells Brownfield moisture levels on his farm are more than adequate.

“We’ve been one of the garden spots it seems like across the whole state.  I can’t recall a time when we’ve been a better position for August moisture.”

He says his soybean fields look great and corn is finishing nicely with good ear sizing.

This week the U.S. Drought Monitor doubled the amount of abnormally dry areas which now cover nearly 35 percent of the state and five percent are reported as moderately dry in the southwest and southern counties at the Indiana/Ohio border. 

Some farmers haven’t received rain since mid-June and crop stress within corn and soybean fields is increasing.