News

Michigan could use more rain

Cool, wet weather brought a slight improvement to Michigan moisture levels last week.  The U.S. Drought Monitor reports abnormally dry conditions persist across most of the state with moderate drought spanning across southern regions and some easing in the Upper Peninsula.

In its weekly crop progress report, USDA says farmers have planted two percent of corn, one percent of soybeans, 47 percent of oats, and 60 percent of sugarbeets—still all ahead of the five-year average.  Topsoil moisture is 87 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil moisture is at 84 percent.

Winter wheat condition improved a percent on the week to 73 percent good to excellent with 40 percent of the crop jointed.

Fruit development slowed some with the cooler weather and apples in the southwest showed some signs of damage from April freeze events.