Weather
The previous week saw temperatures 2-8 degrees above normal with little to no rain in central lower Michigan, to more than two inches in the north.
The smoke blocked the sun, and this changed sun-driven cycles in wind and relative humidity. Typically, sunshine reduces relative humidity as we progress towards noon and heats the air to make it windy. At Sparty’s house, there was moderate smoke, sunlight was reduced by 20%, and daily cycles did not change as much. To the north in Traverse City, there was 50% less sunshine and accordingly less variation in wind and relative humidity. In the eastern Upper Peninsula, sun was reduced by 80%. This completely wiped out the typical daily cycle in wind and relative humidity. They flatlined and did not change during the day. The weather pattern has shifted so smoke is no longer concentrated over us, but it could happen again if weather conditions are right.
This week’s forecast:
- Fair and dry Wednesday through Friday with a gradual warming trend. Scattered showers possible in the north Saturday, spreading south into the lower peninsula Sunday and Monday.
- Minimal rainfall totals except for limited areas.
- High temperatures generally from the low-mid 70s Wednesday, warming to the low-mid 80s this weekend. Low temperatures in the upper 40s in the north to mid-50s S Thursday, increasing to the mid-upper 50s this weekend and the upper 50s to low 60s early next week.
- Medium range and new long lead outlooks generally call for near to above normal mean temperatures and near to below normal precipitation totals.
Vegetable Cover Crop Selector Tool
The Midwest Cover Crop Council website recently updated an online tool for selecting cover crops. Read more about this new resource in the following MSU Extension article:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/cover_crop_selection_tool_available_for_michigan_vegetable_farmers
Cyclospora Update
Find webinars and resources that provide an overview of Cyclospora, practical guidance to help prevent contamination and protect your crops throughout the growing season, and the latest updates on the current outbreak.
Source : msu.edu