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State News |
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Updated Friday June 27th
Decline in Crops Due to Adverse Weather Conditions This Year
Michigan apple and tart cherry growers are bracing for the shortest crops in several years primarily due to frost damage. Meanwhile, some of the state's vegetable fields have been completely destroyed by flooding. "The flooding devastation in the Corn Belt has drawn a lot of attention to the condition of field crops, but in Michigan, where we produce more than 200 commodities, we also need to be concerned about our specialty crops. Unfortunately, some of Michigan's fruit and vegetable crops are in rough shape," said Ken Nye, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) horticultural and forestry specialist. Still, Michigan is far better off than Wisconsin, where a variety of weather factors ranging from drought last summer to an early warm spell and sudden freeze earlier this year have lowered cherry production to an estimated 200,000 pounds, 98 percent below the 10.4 million pounds produced a year ago. Between Michigan and Wisconsin and production declines in other states, tart cherry production nationally this year is forecast at only 177 million pounds, 30 percent below the 252 million pounds produced in 2007. New Farming Technology If you're a farmer who remembers the size difference between your first cell phone and the one up to your ear right now, you'll appreciate just how much new technology the Michigan Farm Bureau will squeeze into its exhibit at Ag Expo this year. Dubbed "Technology Row," the tent will display a smorgasbord of the newest devices that will fit into most modern farmers' management plans. Beginning at the building's west end, the popular cattle handling demonstrations will feature presentations about the power of electronic identification tags to manage information. Experts will be on hand to give tips on how to best use the technology. There will be plenty of new offerings in Technology Row, including displays about the latest innovations in soil testing and grid sampling, along with remote sensing satellite imaging and mapping. State meteorologist Jeff Andresen will display the latest in weather modeling at the Farm Bureau tent, with an emphasis on how the newest technology can help farmers anticipate insect pressure. Ag Expo is the state's largest outdoor farm show. It takes place on Michigan State University's campus July 15-17. MFB Trying to Further the Farm Bill Michigan's U.S. Representatives and Senators who, for the second time, voted Wednesday to override President Bush's veto of the farm bill, once again exhibited remarkable leadership and foresight for all of Michigan, according to the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), the state's largest general farm organization. " The legislation provides vital support for nutrition, conservation, research, food safety and many other programs that benefit all Americans at a time when these types of programs are desperately warranted," said Ryan Findlay, MFB associate national legislative counsel. Last month President Bush vetoed and Congress overrode a version of the legislation which, due to a clerical error, did not contain the trade title. This second round of voting approves the bill in its entirety and enacts the 35-page trade section dealing with farm export and food aid programs. MFB has turned its attention toward helping members understand the details of the more than 1,500-page bill, including the complexities surrounding individual farmer involvement in specific agricultural programs. MI Crop Weather Report The USDA NASS Michigan Field Office issued a Michigan crop weather report Monday afternoon. Vince Matthews joins us now with a look at that report. “It was a week with cool temperatures and various amounts of precipitation across the state. The impact on crops was focused on delays in dry bean planting that we’re seeing because of the continued wet conditions, and also hay has been delayed some. If the hay had been harvested earlier, the conditions are prompting good re-growth, but if it hasn’t been cut yet; farmers are concerned about getting that completed. There were some reports of corn yellowing some due to the cooler temperatures. Soybeans seem to be doing fairly well, although there have been some reports of some insects in soybeans. Winter wheat is doing ok, some concern with the cool, wet conditions and some disease problems that there may be. And as I said, dry beans have been slowed some in getting their planting completed. For fruit, apples are developing, although there’s been some fruit drop with some of the varities. In blueberries we’ve seen some frost injury from what we had with the frost conditions earlier. The harvest of sweet cherries has begun on some of the early varities in the SW. In vegetables, the focus there is still hoping for a little bit warmer weather to push growth along. Some of the planting of some crops have been interrupted by the rain, although there have been harvest of the crops that were grown earlier in tunnels that are now being harvested. We’ve seen sweet corn, there was some damage from frost two weeks ago, but that is recovered. Growth is continuing to pick up as the conditions improve.” Cherry—Based Products May Help Treat Some Neurological Diseases A partnership between Cerise Nutraceuticals in Traverse City and Central Michigan University suggests cherry-based products made in Michigan have promising benefits for helping to treat those with common neurological diseases, including disabled veterans. “Our first year of research that we’re doing at Central Michigan University for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease, has all been positive. Now we’re applying for a grant through the 21st Century job fund to expand and continue that research at Central Michigan. That kind of helped us break the ice with other universities, and also with the University of Michigan, because they do a lot of research for the vets.” That’s Cerise Nutraceuticals President Ray Pleva. He says the research suggests benefits for helping to improve balance and motor functions, counteract movement disorders, and reduce oxidative stress and side-effects, providing a safer way for treating these disorders. “It’s also a real plus for the state of Michigan, because these are Michigan products and a Michigan company. We are going to help lead the way to make a difference in their lives.” An application for a second year of research has been submitted in order to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the Cerise project, using the Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s disease models.
Governor Awaits Approval For Federal Disaster Assistance For MI Growers
Governor Jennifer Granholm is requesting federal disaster assistance for Michigan growers. Granholm request is a for farmers in 55 Michigan counties who are facing fruit, vegetable, and other frost-sensitive crop losses because of several severe frosts and freezes this spring. Federal, state, and local agencies are working together to assess crop losses and expedite the process to obtain a federal agricultural disaster declaration. In order for Michigan to receive federal disaster status, the original crop loss estimates must be verified from harvest yield data. If losses of 30 percent or more are confirmed, and the disaster request is granted, eligible state producers will have access to USDA-FSA’s low-interest emergency loan program for up to 100 percent of their weather-related agriculture production losses.
Fruit Crop Advisory Team Report
During Tuesday morning’s fruit Crop Advisory Team conference call, agents from around the state assessed weather concerns, crop development, and planting activity. Some areas of the state received rain and thunderstorms over the past week. In the SW region, apricots were at 2.5 inches in diameter, peaches 1.5 inches in diameter, with no pit hardening and no scab detected. Sweet cherries harvest has begun, no brown rot infection detected. Apples are at 1.5 inches in diameter, and coddling moth is halfway through egg hatch. Blueberries are starting to color. In the SE, apples were at 1.25 inches. Coddling moth numbers are down, and most aphids and oblique leaf rollers were on the way out. Peaches are at 1.25 to 1.5 inches, sweet cherries picking began last week, and tarts are coloring nicely. The Grand Rapids area is seeing green apple aphids and coddling moth is at peak egg hatch. Fire blight has also been detected. In the NW Apples are sizing. Strawberry harvest is just beginning, and bacterial canker has been spotted in sweet cherries. Oblique banded leaf roller, greater and lesser peach tree borer and coddling moth are all on the rise, and OFM is trailing off.
Food Vs. Fuel Debate Continues
As the food verses fuel debate shows no sign of stopping, it isn’t very likely we’ll see any kind of compromise between the pro and anti ethanol camps. Don Kudwa, Executive Director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission says consumers, industry leaders, and the ag community itself needs more education about the subject. “I doubt if there is a compromise that can be reached. We have customers that use Michigan potatoes for snack manufacturing and these folks use cooking oils, that’s the main ingredient potatoes and cooking oil. Their costs have gone up sharply and they are looking to anything that would reduce those costs even slightly. We need to work with them, and we need to help explain to them that this is beyond the cost or the market for corn being influenced by ethanol, and that there are other factors. I think they already understand that and their really responding to the fact that this is the only measure or method they have influencing the system at all, is corn going to ethanol.” As for the government stepping in, Kudwa says it’s a complicated scenario, and that there’s little congress can do about ethanol that will have any major impact on the world food situation.
Looking At Relief For West Side Damage In MI
MDA Director Don Koivisto just finished up a tour of storm stricken Ottawa and Allegan counties to get a first hand look at crop damage there. All together eight counties on the state’s west side were severely affected by the recent string of storms. “We had a very good tour over in Allegan and Ottawa counties. It was both a look and a listen tour for me. We looked at what was going on with the crop damage in the area and we also listened to area concerns, in particular, from a variety of farmers that had unique damage to their place. In some places we saw 100 percent of loss in the celery, radish, and onion areas. Some of the corn crops were severely damaged, maybe not completely killed, but they were damaged and they won’t be growing well through out the season. We want to make sure, as a department, that we are doing everything we are supposed to be doing to make sure that area farmers are going to be able to maximize their effort in federal disaster funds. The governor did declare a disaster area for the freeze part that was at the end of March for those 55 counties that were impacted. Now we may be looking for additional disaster designations for the flooding and the rain and wind and hail damage that eight counties suffered on the west side of the state just recently.” Koivisto says in order to make the best of the situation, growers will try to maximize production during the time that remains for the season.
Copper Theft on the Rise in MI, and Now Becoming a National Problem
The Michigan Agri-Business Association is calling on the state Senate to move quickly on proposals to crack down on copper theft. The proposals in the Senate will tighten regulations on scrap metal transactions, including fingerprinting; toughen punishments against thieves; and cracks down on suspicious materials. As the price of copper has risen, from $.75 a pound in 2004 to nearly $4.00 per pound today, so have copper thefts on businesses, homes and agriculture. Copper is found in many farm and agricultural implements, equipment, buildings and other assets, including grain dryers, irrigation systems, buildings and pumps, among others. Copper theft has grown into a nationwide problem, affecting farms across the country.
Vegetable Crop Advisory Team Report
During Wednesday morning’s Crop Advisory Team conference call, agents from around the state assessed weather concerns, crop development, and planting activity. In the SW, there were some areas of flooding, following the storms and severe weather. Pumpkins were up, onions are progressing, tomatoes and peppers are looking good. In the central region, there was much storm damage. On the muck, radishes were 80 percent gone and are being replanted, lettuce is 50 percent gone. Onion was 20 percent gone, but is doing well in some stands. Leeks had some erosion issues and need to be replanted. There were some big losses in celery, but transplanting continues. In Mason and Newaygo Counties, Carrots are at ¼ inch in diameter. Crown maggots are showing up in spinach. Peas were being harvested, while snap beans were being planted. Some corn ear worms were caught in traps. In Oceana County, some asparagus growers are shutting down for the season. Aster leaf hopper numbers are down in carrots. In Monroe County, sweet corn is progressing, and some may be harvested for the 4th of July, ECB larvae are present. Potatoes are blossoming, with some leaf hoppers present. In Macomb, St. Clair and Lapeer counties, there was some storm damage. Onions are suffering from some smut, but not serious.
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT—E. Coli Linked to Ground Beef
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is issuing a public health alert due to illnesses from E. coli associated with ground beef. More than half of the Michigan patients report purchasing and consuming ground beef from Kroger Food Stores. Product traceback is in progress and additional retailers and outlets may be identified. MDCH has confirmed 15 E. coli cases that are genetically linked and 10 of those cases are hospitalized. "Kroger is fully cooperating with state and federal investigators," said Don Koivisto, Michigan Department of Agriculture Director. "It's critical that consumers follow safe food practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illness such as cooking your meat thoroughly using a food thermometer to determine proper internal temperature." For additional information on proper food safety practices, visit MDA's Web site at www.michigan.gov/foodsafety. Persons who believe they have signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a healthcare provider.
New President Announced for the Association of Food and Drug Officials
The Michigan Department of Agriculture has announced Gerald Wojtala, Food and Dairy Division Deputy Director, has been elected the 2008-2009 president of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Don Koivisto, MDA Director says, “Jerry is a tremendous asset to MDA and I am thrilled he was selected for this honor.” Wojtala’s career with MDA began in April 1985. He currently manages the food protection programs in the State of Michigan as the Deputy Director of the Food and Dairy Division. Jerry holds a degree in microbiology from Eastern Michigan University and graduate work in food science at Wayne State University. Established in 1896, AFDO is an international, non-profit organization. It fosters uniformity in the adoption and enforcement of food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics and product safety laws, as well as rules and regulations.
Supermarket Prices on the Rise as Weather Damage to Crops Continue
The devastating flooding and storm damage has taken its toll on the Midwest. And Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto says it won’t be too long before consumers will start to feel the pinch at the supermarket. “At this point in time it seems like the disasters keep piling up. The extent of the damage in the Midwest, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota to a degree, in those states, they have really been hammered. There is over a million acres of crop land underground in Iowa alone, and the damage continues. There isn’t too much good news at this point in time that we can provide to consumers. I wish I could say different.” Koivisto toured storm stricken Ottawa and Allegan counties earlier this week to get a first hand look at crop damage there. All together eight counties on the state’s west side were severely affected by the recent string of storms.
Borer Complex In Michigan
Fruit tree growers are aware of the damage borers can do to their trees, but some may not be aware of the borer complex, a combination of three different borers. Nikki Rothwell, Michigan State University district horticulturist, has some advice for growers on what to look for. “I would recommend that growers start trapping for borers. And the other complicated issue is that we have a borer complex, so it’s not just one borer out there. We have American plum borers, we have greater peach tree borers; also known as peach tree borers, and we have lesser peach tree borers. We have these three that are out there, so all of those have larve that are the actual borers. We see this damage a lot of times especially in cherry orchards where we have shaker damage, so any type of wound, where these larve or moths actually lay eggs, and then the larve borer in, any place that has a wound is a much easier entrance. We find that growers can look for anywhere they have that typical shaker damage, if they look a little bit and peel back some of that bark, they will see frass, that kind of orange colored frass, and then you’ll see gummosis. The tree is trying to kick those larve out of the tree, so there’s a lot of gummosis, and there’s also a lot of red, sticky, gelatinous material, we’ve seen that on some pretty damaged trees, or trees that are highly infested.” Rothwell adds the greater peachtree borer can invade at the soil line. Growers can look for orange-ish frass at the soil line around bloom time.
Two MSU Professors Receive National Honors
Two Michigan State University professors have received national honors for their work that has provided significant innovations in pollution prevention in the United States. Chemistry professors Robert Maleczka and Milton Smith have earned the 2008 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The two received the Academic Award for their work that resulted in a new environmentally friendly method for making complex compounds. Their discovery streamlines the manufacturing of chemical building blocks, and significantly reduces the amounts of hazardous waste associated with this process. Pharmaceuticals, pesticides and similar complex substances can now be manufactured with minimal waste and impact on the environment. “Our technology makes the process more efficient and produces only hydrogen gas as the byproduct, so it is a win-win for companies to save money and reduce their impact on the environment,” Smith said.
Weekly Crop Progress Report The National Ag Statistic Service Michigan Field Office released their weekly crop progress report and according to that report:
Soil moisture for week ending 06/29/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : Stratum : short : Short :Adequate :Surplus ----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent Topsoil : 1 13 74 12 Subsoil : 2 14 76 8 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop condition for week ending 06/29/08 ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Crop : poor : Poor : Fair : Good :Excellent----------------------------------------------------------- : Percent All Hay : 2 7 30 46 15 Barley : 1 1 31 64 3 Corn : 1 3 18 55 23 Oats : 1 9 27 55 8 Pasture : 1 4 28 53 14 Soybeans : 1 8 33 44 14 Winter Wheat : 1 5 24 55 15 ----------------------------------------------------------- Crop progress for week ending 06/29/08 ------------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last :5-year Crop : week : week : year :average------------------------------------------------------------- : Inches Corn, height : 21 14 31 23 : Percent All hay, first cutting : 78 57 90 83 All hay, second cutting : 7 NA 10 8 Dry beans, planted : 95 49 99 95 Dry beans, emerged : 44 17 95 76 Oats, headed : 74 46 74 70 Oats, turning yellow : 2 NA NA NA Soybeans, blooming : 3 NA 9 2 Strawberries, harvested : 59 54 86 78 Tart cherries, harvested : 7 NA 23 10 Winter wheat, turning yellow : 66 22 92 63 ------------------------------------------------------------- |
