Soggy soil is slowingcorn and soybeanplanting in Michigan.
The Michigan Farm Bureau’s Theresa Sisung says only a third of the state’s corn crop is in the ground and only about a quarter of the soybean crop.
She blames unusually moist soil after 12 months of unusually wet, cool weather in Michigan.
“This is the slowest planting progress we’ve ever had for corn. And it’s the fifth slowest season we’ve had for soybean planting,” says Sisung “Farmers can’t get out there. And even if maybe it looks like they can, then it rains again.”
Sisung says Michigan farmers face planting deadlines in the coming weeks tied to crop insurance qualification.
She says there’s still a chance Michigan’s corn and soybean growers will be able to salvage the season.
“If we get a nice warm summer, and some rain throughout the summer to keep that crop moving along we could still have a really good crop,” says Sisung, “It all just depends on Mother Nature.”
While this has been a tough spring for Michigan’s corn and soybean crops, Sisung says the quality of the state’s asparagus crop is very good.
Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio
