News

Dry weather an issue across Michigan

Dry and warm weather dominated Michigan during December.

The USDA says average temperatures were more than 10 degrees above normal, while statewide precipitation was three tenths of an inch below usual levels, with 59% of the state reporting at least abnormally dry conditions.

That’s largely in the Upper Peninsula and north and middle counties of the Lower Peninsula as most of Michigan still has adequate to surplus soil moisture.

42% of the winter wheat crop is called good to excellent, 1% less than last year, with late planted portions of the crop starting to emerge.

There’s still corn being harvested in southeast Michigan, with some reports of vomitoxin as some farmers wait for the ground to freeze before finishing.

Farmers are also buying seed and doing fieldwork ahead of spring planting, tending to livestock, and doing tiling work.

The USDA’s weekly national crop progress and condition reports resume in April.