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Michigan planting progress pushes ahead of average

A mid-Michigan farmer says variable soil moisture conditions have made for a slow start to planting.

Eaton County’s Brett Roberts tells Brownfield, “Some stuff’s dry, some stuff on the edge, and some, I went and checked the field today that I was going to go to next and almost got my pickup stuck—I did not expect that.”

USDA says 63 percent of the state’s corn is now planted, with 27 percent emerged.

Soybeans are 53 percent planted and 23 percent emerged.

“We start planting corn and soybeans at pretty much the same time, usually within a day or so, it just depends on the year,” Roberts shares. “We did some about a week earlier before we planted any cor,n so we do have soybeans up, we don’t have any corn that’s emerged yet.”

Wheat in Michigan is 82 percent jointed and 68 percent good to excellent.

Oats are 82 percent planted and 35 percent emerged, with condition rated 72 percent good to excellent.

Sugarbeets have all emerged and condition is rated 83 percent good to excellent.

The first cutting of alfalfa was five percent complete as of Sunday, while pasture and range conditions were rated 87 percent good to excellent.