Michigan crops are estimated to be a week behind in planting due to rainfall and saturated fields.
Fields have experienced flooding and ponding across Michigan as a result of full soil profiles.
Field crop educator in Isabella County, Paul Gross said the fields are oversaturated and that has been affecting crops like the wheat crop.
“We had a late planting of wheat last fall so it went into winter at risk,” Gross said. “Now with the wet, cool conditions in spring, some of the stands are just deteriorating more or more with these wet conditions.”
Paul Gross said crops such as corn crops are about a week behind in planting.
“We are at three percent planted in corn,” Gross said. “Ordinarily we are 16 percent planted so we have a lot of planting delays due to this wet weather.”
Gross said it is going to be seven to ten days before the fields can dry out for good planting conditions.
Despite that, he wants farmers to remain positive.
“Every year is different," Gross said. “It is not how we start the season, it is how we end.”
