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Michigan crops surging amid disease concerns

Michigan crops are advancing ahead of last year and the five-year average as disease pressure intensifies.

The USDA says corn is rated 61 percent good to excellent with 81 percent of the crop silking and 22 percent in the dough stage.

Soybeans are 89 percent blooming and 52 percent setting pods, with 60 percent of the crop good to excellent.

Winter wheat in Michigan is 96 percent harvested. Sugarbeets are rated 79 percent good to excellent.

Dry beans are 87 percent blooming, 44 percent setting pods, and rated 35 percent good to excellent.

Second cutting of alfalfa is 87 percent complete, and third cutting is at the 39 percent mark.

Early season apple, peaches and blueberries are being harvest with growers reporting some disease concerns. Disease pressure is also high for vegetable crops.