Cool, wet conditions slowing Southwest Michigan field activities

Field activities in Southwest Michigan for 2011 have been delayed by weather and are significantly behind 2010.

Weather

Since April 1, high temperatures have ranged from 45 to 84oF and lows from 20 to 57oF for an average high of 56.7oF and an average low of 37oF. In 2010, the average high and low for the same period was 66.7 and 44.2oF. The average daily temperature from April 1 to April 18, 2010 was 55.5oF, while in 2011 it was 46.8oF.

Precipitation from April 1 - 18, 2010 was 2.13 inches and for the same period in 2011 it was 2.52 inches. Most precipitation (1.47-inches) in 2010 came on April 5 and 7 with the rest of April being dry. For April 2011, the precipitation has been scattered throughout the month. Soil temperatures at the 2-inch level are in the mid-40s.

Field activities

Growers have been able to do some plowing on drier sites, but have not progressed much beyond that for most sites. Planting under tunnels was scheduled for this week but it will be delayed due to weather.

Crop reports

Some cole crop transplants have been set out in smaller plantings used for direct marketing.

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