This season has not been good for agriculture.
Farmers said the wet spring made for a late start planting, while the summer heat has been drying up area fields.
Bob Battel is a Michigan State University extension field crops educator for Huron and Tuscola counties. He said the summer has been uniquely dry.
“To have a June to July, back to back, dry is fairly rare.”
Battel said the expected rain this weekend will help the crops tremendously.
Area crops would need another three-inches of rain per month for optimal growth, but farmers expect below average precipitation for the rest of the growing season.
“Other areas are still very dry,” he said. “[They are] just getting enough rain to keep limping along.”
Battel said for the most part, considering the lack of moisture, crops across the state are looking fairly good.
The rain forecast for the weekend will be a refreshing change for dusty fields across mid-Michigan.
Crops like wheat, corn and soybeans have been struggling to grow due to the dry heat.
Farmers said their wheat harvest was below expectation.
“We’re still not at the point of no return because we have had those rains to keep things limping along,” Battel said. “But, a nice shower this weekend will help things a lot.”
Battel said the little bit of rain area farms have seen has been utilized well, and the crops are doing better than expected under such dry conditions.