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Vol. 23, No. 1, April 14, 2008
 
In this issue
Disease management strategies for celery in the greenhouse
Potato virus update
Potato disease extension bulletins
New herbicide labels for vegetable crops for 2008
Use your soil nutrient bank
Department of Homeland Security plans I-9 audits in 2008
U.S. agricultural labor statistics for winter 2008
New pesticide applicator core manuals available
Weather News

Next issue April 30  
Regional reports map
 
Starting up the season

Spring is here and MSU Extension’s experts are ready to start publishing the Vegetable Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletters. This issue offers an update on fine-tuning fertilizer applications and the status of ag labor. As usual, we include recommendations for early pest control measures and updates on pesticide registrations.

Our Internet readers will want to note that beginning this month we intend to post articles throughout the week as we receive them from authors. In the past, articles were collected and then published on the web and in print once a week. To receive information in the timeliest manner, consider signing up to receive a brief email when new articles are available on the Internet. Details are at: http://ipm.msu.edu/email-veg.htm
We appreciate suggestions from you, our readers. Please feel free to contact Andrea Buchholz at (517) 353-4703 or email catalert@msu.edu. We look forward to joining with MSU’s faculty and educators in providing you information this season for a successful harvest. – Joy Landis, editor, and Andrea Buchholz, assistant editor.
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Disease management strategies for celery in the greenhouse
Mary Hausbeck
Plant Pathology

Damping-off (caused by Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp. and Rhizoctonia sp.) affects all vegetable seedlings and is also common among flowering bedding plants. Damping-off results in collapse of the plant at the soil surface. To prevent damping-off, avoid over-watering because some fungi that cause damping-off prefer wet conditions.

Good sanitation is the key and ensures that root rot problems from one crop are not carried over to another crop. Root rot pathogens survive in the greenhouse in soil particles or plant parts clinging to containers, benches, walkways and equipment. If root rot occurs, remove and destroy the diseased plants. Also, remove healthy-appearing plants that are immediately adjacent to the dead plants because the disease may have already spread to them although they are not yet showing symptoms. Plug sheets containing diseased transplants should not be reused.

Botrytis gray mold can infect all vegetable transplants causing an irregular brown spotting or “blight” of leaves and stem cankers. This is the same Botrytis that infects a wide range of floriculture crops producing gray masses of powdery spores. In vegetable transplants, Botrytis is a threat when plants grow and form a canopy of leaves keeping the relative humidity high which favors disease. Since the fungus that causes gray mold depends on water to germinate on the plant surface, increasing air circulation through fans and reducing the relative humidity by venting or heating (depending on outside temperatures) will help prevent condensation of water on plant surfaces and thereby reduce the occurrence of gray mold. Watering early in the day will help ensure that the plants dry by evening, reducing the occurrence of disease.

Bacterial disease can infect celery resulting in blighting. Not all spotting on the foliage is caused by fungi. It is important to distinguish between spots caused by fungi and bacteria because disease management differs. Bacterial disease causes small, dark-brown spots surrounded by a yellow “halo” on the leaves. A diagnosis from an extension agent or other knowledgeable professional is often warranted to separate symptoms of bacterial diseases from symptoms caused by fungi or other causes.

Celery seedlings with bacterial disease should be immediately removed from the greenhouse and destroyed. In addition, seedlings immediately adjacent to those showing symptoms should also be removed and destroyed. Although epidemics may seem to appear overnight, chances are it began in just a few plants and progressed unnoticed for a couple of weeks. Plug sheets containing infected transplants should not be reused. Removing infected transplants from the greenhouse is the most critical component of managing bacterial diseases once they’ve been introduced.

Bacteria move readily in a film of water and can spread through splash droplets. It is important, therefore, to water plants early enough in the day to ensure that the foliage dries completely by evening. Good ventilation, circulation, and low relative humidity are also important in helping to maintain dry foliage. Clipping, pruning, or any other type of injury provides a means for the bacteria to enter the plant and should be avoided.
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Potato virus update
Willie Kirk, Plant Pathology and
George Bird, Entomology


Potato plants can become systemically infected with viruses following mechanical transmission or through vectors. Viruses decrease plant vigor and cause mottling, chlorosis and necrosis. Yields are decreased and some viruses cause internal tuber symptoms which can be seen after the affected tuber is cut or peeled. Such crops completely lose their value even though a small proportion of tubers are affected. Some viruses may rapidly kill plants, whereas others cause mild or no symptoms at all and the reaction of different varieties to the same virus can vary. Photosynthetic capability and yield is reduced, but more recently there has been a worldwide increase in viruses that cause tuber necrotic symptoms such as Tobacco rattle virus (corky ring spot) and PMTV (potato mop top virus). Corky ring spot has now been reported in Michigan, but PMTV is confined at present to China, Japan, Northern Europe and Canada but has been reported in Maine. A recent study from the United Kingdom has indicated that PMTV may be principally soil-borne.

In Michigan, the most common virus problems are aphid-transmitted diseases such as PVY and its variants. Viral symptoms can be quite different in the year when plants become infected (primary symptoms) from those in plants derived from infected seed (secondary symptoms). For example PVY (severe mosaic), transmitted by aphids such as the soybean
Potatoes
Arcs on potatoes caused by virus.
aphid, may nearly defoliate potato plants within four weeks after infection and decrease yield. These seed tubers become viral hosts for the following season. The percentage of tubers infected is established during winter grow-outs each year and seedlots can be downgraded if they fail to meet standards. In the following season, plants from infected seed are severely stunted, mottled and die early limiting yield with a high proportion of small tubers.

The primary symptoms of some virus infections are mild or, if infection occurs late, plants may show no symptoms. Infected tubers may produce plants with severe symptoms in the following season. Plants infected during the growing season with leaf roll virus transmitted by aphids may show slight rolling of upper leaves, often only on one stem. In the next season, leaf roll infected tubers produce stunted plants with rolled lower leaves that are thickened and brittle. In Michigan, a reduction in leaf roll has occurred due to the use of neonictinoid insecticides that has effectively controlled viruleferous aphids.

Some viruses produce mild symptoms or none at all in both seasons. Virus X transmitted mechanically by leaf contact, machinery or on clothing, may produce no symptoms whereas in some varieties it causes leaf mottles but does not affect plant vigor or yield. Plants infected with Virus A, also transmitted by aphids, show mild symptoms but in association with Virus X or Y can cause crinkle symptoms. The co-infection of plants with some of PVY and PVO or PVS has resulted in complex reactions that have lead to the appearance of some tuber necrotic strains of PVY known as PVTntn, which can cause necrosis in tubers.

In Michigan, when tubers were removed from storages in 2007, substantial internal necrosis was observed in 1-2 percent of the tubers. Symptoms included arcs similar to those caused by TRV (Figure 1). This virus is a member of the genus Tobravirus and is transmitted by a number of species of stubby-root nematodes (Paratrichodorus or Trichodorus spp.). Stubby-root nematodes have been previously reported from Michigan. Corky ringspot can result in substantial losses, with entire potato fields being rejected due to internal tuber damage. Once found, fields are considered permanently at risk to this disease due to the large host range of both the virus and the nematode vector. This disease has been previously found in the United States in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and likely in Indiana.

Management of virus diseases in potato is complicated due to the various vectors that are involved in transmission. Management practices include exclusion and sanitation. Planting of certified seed is generally accepted as the best practice for potato production and growers planting non-certified seed are at risk from virus diseases. Varieties that are immune to a particular virus should be planted, but there is limited knowledge on varietal responses to many of the viruses although Eva, Dark Red Norland, Belrus, HiLite Russet, Kennebec, Monona, Norwis, and Sebago have some resistance or tolerance to PVY. Some varieties of potatoes are susceptible to particular viruses but do not show clear symptoms (Shepody and Russet Norkotah are symptomless carriers of PVY). This can cause problems in susceptible varieties that express symptoms such as leaf necrosis, internode stunting and tuber necrosis. Where possible seed stocks with the lowest virus counts should be planted, PVY is nonpersistent but is transmitted quickly by aphids and insecticides are generally ineffective. Frequent application of mineral oils can be used to reduce spread of PVY by aphids. Reduction of human and mechanical traffic through the field can limit mechanical spread (especially for PVX). Roguing of symptomatic plants and removal of Solanaceous plants such as nightshade and ground cherry with herbicides can help reduce disease.

Nematode vectored viruses such as TRV may be transmitted at the root tip into potato plants, then move to the tubers. The use of a nematicide such as oxamyl (Vydate L-CV) at planting followed by further post-emergence applications; (max 2.5 gal/season) are recommended in western states where the nematodes and virus are established. Soil should be sampled to determine presence of nematodes that transmit TRV. TRV can survive in dormant nematodes for two to four years and nematode populations increase on cereal crops, so rotations should not include them. The use of rotational non-host crops (spearmint and alfalfa) has had limited success in western states. Shepherd's purse and chickweed are viral-reservoirs therefore applications of effective herbicides can limit viral increase. We are currently developing a research program for TRV management in Michigan and will be able in the future to test stubby root nematodes for presence of TRV.
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Potato disease Extension bulletins
Willie Kirk, Plant Pathology

A new potato disease scouting guide is now available in addition to seven new high resolution potato diseases MSU Extension bulletins for purchase from the MSU Extension Bulletin Office.

The scouting guide includes a calendar of developmental events for the major disease of potatoes in Michigan. The new group of publications includes the recent potato late blight bulletin and bulletins on early blight, pink rot, Fusarium dry rot, Rhizoctonia diseases, potato common scab, white mold and seed piece management.

For more information, call 517-353-6740. You can also download these bulletins from the “Extension publications” page as pdf files from the website http://lateblight.org.

Also at http://lateblight.org daily updates of potato late blight risk will be available from May 1 for all the MAWN sites in Michigan and updates on extension meetings being held throughout the state.
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New herbicide labels for vegetable crops for 2008
Bernard Zandstra, Horticulture

Several new herbicide registrations have been issued for vegetable crops during the past year. Growers should have copies of the labels in their possession before use. Recommendations for most of these uses are included in MSU Extension bulletin E-433, 2008 Weed Control Guide for Vegetable Crops.

Selectmax
, the new formulation of Select, a postemergence grass herbicide, has been labeled for the following crops: asparagus, dill, endive, escarole, parsley, pea and Swiss chard. Selectmax normally is applied at 9-16 fl oz per acre. It is similar in activity to other postemergence grass herbicides, such as Poast and Fusilade. It is the most effective of the group against annual bluegrass, which often is a problem early in the season.

Raptor
is registered for postemergence broadleaf control in snap beans. It should always be applied in a tank mix with Basagran, which reduces snap bean injury. The combination gives very good control of most emerged grasses and broadleaves.

Prowl H2O
is registered for preemergence weed control in carrot. It may be applied at 2 pt/acre after seeding. Prowl H2O also is registered for peas as a preplant incorporated (PPI) treatment. It also may be applied to pepper and tomato before transplanting as a PPI treatment, or to the soil as a pretransplant treatment. It may be applied as a directed spray to the soil after transplanting. Prowl H2O also may be applied to soil before transplanting strawberries. It is not registered for application to established strawberries.

Poast
, a postemergence grass herbicide, now is labeled for dill, okra, radish and rutabaga. The normal use rate is 1-2.5 pt/acre. Poast is active against most annual grasses.

Outlook
is labeled for preemergence weed control in leek and green onion. It should be applied after the 2 leaf stage to suppress new weed germination. It is effective against most annual grasses and broadleaves, and yellow nutsedge. Outlook does not have postemergence activity, and will not control emerged weeds.

Callisto
is registered for preemergence annual weed control in asparagus and rhubarb. In asparagus, it may be applied at 3-7.7 fl oz/acre in the spring before spear emergence. It also may be applied after final harvest. The maximum amount per acre per year is 7.7 fl oz, in one or two applications. Callisto gives good preemergence and postemergence control of most broadleaves. It is weak on most grasses.

In rhubarb, apply 6 fl oz Callisto before rhubarb begins to grow in the spring. If some weeds have germinated, add 1 percent COC to improve postemergence activity.

Chateau
is now labeled for use in asparagus. It should be applied at least 14 days before spears emerge to avoid injury to the spears. Apply up to 6 oz product per acre (0.192 lb ai/acre) for control of most annual broadleaves and grasses. It works best in combinations with other preemergence herbicides. Chateau does not give acceptable control of horseweed (marestail), even though it is listed as controlled on the label. Add 1 percent COC or 0.25 percent NIS to the spray mixture to increase postemergence burndown of weeds that have emerged at time of application.

Reflex
is now registered for preemergence weed control in snap beans. It should be applied after seeding snap beans for control of most annual grasses and broadleaves. Reflex has been registered for postemergence broadleaf control in snap beans, so this is a label expansion. There is still a limitation of one application of Reflex to a field in two years. It probably will be more useful as a postemergence treatment, since several other herbicides are registered for preemergence use in snap beans.

Two new herbicides are registered for use in sweet corn: Laudis and Impact. Both are HPPD inhibitors, related chemically to Callisto. Both Laudis and Impact may be applied postemergence in all types of corn for control of annual broadleaves and grasses. Some sweet corn hybrids may be sensitive to HPPD inhibitors, so try these herbicides on a small area to determine potential crop phytotoxicity.
Other new herbicide labels for vegetable crops may be issued soon, and we will print details in the Vegetable CAT Alert as we receive information.
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Use your soil nutrient bank
Darryl Warncke, Crop and Soil Sciences

With the significant increases in costs of phosphate and potash fertilizers since last season and with tight supplies, some reflection on recommended rates is in order. MSU’s recommendations for phosphate (P2O5) and potash (K2O) are based on the buildup and maintenance approach. In this approach, the most important soil test value is the critical level (CL). On average, when the soil test value is at the CL, there is sufficient P or K available in the soil to produce top quality produce and near maximum yield. This is usually very close to the point of maximum economic return. For P, the CL varies by crop. For most vegetable crops, it is 40 ppm. For K, the CV varies with the cation exchange capacity of the soil. At or above the CL applying more fertilizer will usually not improve yield, but if no P or K is added, the available level in the soil will decline.

An adequate soil test or maintenance range has been established over which an amount of P or K equal to crop removal is recommend. For phosphorus, this range is 25 to 30 ppm beyond the CV and for K it is 20 ppm. When the soil test value is beyond the maintenance range, there is no need to apply addition P or K. For most vegetable crops, no P is necessary when the soil test value is over 70 ppm. With K, the soil test value above which no K is needed will range from 105 to 140 ppm depending on soil texture, sandy to clayey.
When the P or K soil test value is below the CL, the recommended amount of that nutrient will include an amount to build up the soil test value to the CL over a four year period plus an amount equal to crop removal (maintenance). Crop removal information is available in MSUE bulletin Nutrient Recommendations for Vegetable Crops in Michigan E-2934, page 9. Due to higher prices and limited supplies, farmers should consider applying no more than crop removal. This will provide an adequate amount for top yields and maintain the current available P or K level in the soil.

Many Michigan soils used for vegetable crop production have more than adequate amounts of P. In those situations, no or only a small amount of phosphorus in the planting time fertilizer is needed. Make use of the P in your soil bank. There is a greater potential for benefit from applying potassium (K) than for P. Only 25 to 30 percent of vegetable crop soils contain more than adequate available K. With limited supplies of potash this year decisions may need to be made on how to allocate the potash you can get. Including 20 to 25 lbs K2O in planting time fertilizer can give improved early growth and K use efficiency and allow a reduction in the amount being broadcast. Due to the nature of the yield response to applied K, it is best to apply a reduced amount (e.g. 75 to 80 percent of recommended amount) to all fields needing K rather than applying the full amount to some fields and a small amount to other fields. Soil test results provide a good guide for how best to allocate available fertilizer resources. Those that have soil test information from the past year or two are in a good position to fertilizer allocation decisions. There is still time before planting to collect soil samples and get the soil test information for fields not recently tested.
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Department of Homeland Security plans I-9 audits in 2008
Vera Bitsch, Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has posted a revised I-9 form on its website for employers to use with new employees (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9.pdf). To order forms, call toll-free at 1-800-870-3676. For forms and information on immigration laws, regulations and procedures, call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. In 2008, industries targeted for random audits are agriculture, restaurants, and janitorial/cleaning services. Ways to be included on the audit list include having been complained about on the national hotline, having been referred by another auditing agency, such as the Department of Labor (DOL), or having been audited before by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Audits can take a number of different forms and be done by mail or in person. For a mail audit, employers will need to send in their I-9 forms to the ICE office. Certified mail and return receipt requests are the recommended way to mail original I-9 forms. Employers should also make copies of the original I-9 forms to keep on file for the duration of the audit. During the audit, each employee for whom an I-9 form is submitted will be subjected to a full background check and each form is carefully evaluated. Civil monetary penalties are $375 to $3,200 for the first violation; $3,200 to $11,000 for the second violation; and $4,300 to $16,000 for subsequent violations on a per-alien basis. Fraudulent I-9 forms constitute a felony and are likely to be prosecuted. When the need arises to correct an I-9 form, employers should use a single line strikethrough, initial it, if necessary attach an explanation, and also attach an additional I-9 form with the correct data. White-out and similar alterations to I-9 forms are strongly discouraged.

Different from a random audit, the typical worksite enforcement targets specific individuals, e.g., fugitives or criminal aliens, or looks for evidence in a crime, and is based on prior information. A common reason for worksite enforcement in Michigan is identity theft. Providing access to the individual in question is likely to be less disruptive than a search of the farm premises. If ICE officers take I-9 forms during a search, the employer should make copies and request the officer to certify the copies. If the original I-9 forms are evidence in a crime, they will not be returned to the employer.

When the Immigration Reform and Control Act was created in 1986 a concern for resulting unfair employment practices led to founding the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) as part of the U.S. Department of Justice. In a 1990 report, widespread employment discrimination against citizens and legal workers, against persons who appear foreign, and against persons with a foreign accent were indeed found. With increased enforcement, an increase in discriminatory practices is expected. The OSC operates a hotline for employers, which may be contacted, even anonymously, at 1-800-255-8155.

This article serves educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For more information go to www.msu.edu/user/bitsch, under “News” click on “Department of Homeland Security Plans I-9 Audits 2008” or click on “Agricultural Labor Issues in Michigan” for a list of available newsletters.
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U.S. agricultural labor statistics for winter 2008
Vera Bitsch, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist

Each quarter, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases farm labor statistics for the national level, broken down by regions. This article is based on the NASS release of February 15, 2008, and the data describe the situation during the week of January 6-12, 2008. While the data is considered reliable at the national level, data of individual regions often have a higher margin of error. In a time when agricultural employers are looking for benchmarks to base their decisions on, this is the most current and comprehensive data available. For more details, the complete release is available at the NASS website (www.usda.gov/nass/). Select “Publications” and then “Reports Calendar” or “Publications” and then “Search,” by “Title” or “Subject” (Farm Labor).

Due to budget constraints, the January 2007 Farm Labor Survey was not conducted. Therefore, comparisons to the previous year are not available in this report. Comparisons to 2006 are provided where appropriate.

During the survey week, the total number of hired workers is estimated at 778,000 individuals; that’s down from 794,000 individuals in 2006. In the reference week, 599,000 individuals were hired directly by farm operators. The average number of hours worked stood at 38.4, similar to 2006 with 38.2 hours.

The average wage rate was $10.77 per hour, compared to $10.10 two years ago. Field workers received $9.64, compared to $9.11 two years ago. Livestock workers earned $10.19, compared to $9.26 two years ago. Last October’s wage rate for livestock workers has been revised to $10.02 and the overall wage rate to $10.38 per hour. These wage rates do not include the value of benefits.

Hired workers include anyone, other than an agricultural service worker, who was paid for at least one hour of agricultural work on a farm or ranch. Worker subgroups, depending on what the employee was primarily hired to do, are field workers, livestock workers, supervisors and other workers (e.g., bookkeepers and pilots).

Field workers are employees engaged in planting, tending and harvesting crops, including operation of farm machinery on crop farms.
Livestock workers are employees tending livestock, milking cows or caring for poultry, including operation of farm machinery on livestock or poultry operations.

Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin make up the Lake region. For the three states, the number of hours worked stood at 33.1 hours during the survey week, compared to 37.8 hours two years ago. The total number of workers, excluding agricultural service workers, is estimated at 40,000 individuals. The average wage rate for all hired workers, including supervisors and other workers was $11.72 per hour, which is second only to Hawaii with $13.04. Two years ago the average wage in the Lake region was $10.73 per hour. In this year’s reference week, field workers earned $10.93 and livestock workers earned $10.67 per hour.

In addition to analyzing wage rates by type of worker, NASS provides wage data by type of farm with slightly different results. These data combine field workers and livestock workers, but exclude the other, typically higher paid, subgroups. The average hourly wage rates in 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, during this January were $9.87 overall, $9.79 for field crops, $9.68 for other crops, and $10.09 for livestock and poultry. Two years ago those rates were $9.19, $9.39, $8.90, and $9.50, respectively.

This January’s survey week, the hourly wage rates in the Lake region were $10.75 for all farms, $8.81 for field crops, $11.75 for other crops, and $10.47 for livestock and poultry farms ­excluding supervisors and other workers. On average, the Lake region was paying the third highest wages of all regions (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) overall during the survey week. Higher wages were paid in the Northern Plains (Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota) with $11.15 and in the Cornbelt (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio) with $10.88. Wages were highest for other crop farms in the Lake region. Two years ago the wages in the Lake region were $9.69 for all farms, $9.42 for livestock and poultry farms, and $10.53 for other crops farms. For statistical reasons, crop farm wages were not available in 2006.

Other crops are farms producing vegetables, melons, berry crops, grapes, tree nuts, citrus fruits, deciduous trees fruits, avocados, dates, figs, olives, nursery, or greenhouse crops.Contact Dr. Bitsch at mbitsch@msu.edu or visit her website at http://www.msu.edu/user/bitsch
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New pesticide applicator core manuals available
Carolyn Randall, Coordinator Pesticide Safety Education Program

The long-awaited, newly revised and rewritten pesticide applicator core certification manuals will be available for sale through the MSUE Bulletin office and through county Extension offices soon. The private applicator manual (MSUE Bulletin E3007) and commercial applicator manual (MSUE Bulletin E3008) are expected to be delivered to the Bulletin Distribution Center by mid-April. Unlike the old core manual, which combined the private and commercial certification information into one, the new manuals will be sold separately. Both will be sold at a retail cost of $30. They both consist of a Michigan-specific addendum shrink-wrapped with the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture has established a cut-off date of August 1, 2008 for taking the old core exam. In the interim, applicants will be given the choice of taking the old core exam or the new core exam depending on which manual they studied.
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Weather news
Jeff Andresen
Agricultural Meteorology
Geography


Changes in the upper air pattern across North America were underway early this week. There has been a gradual westward shift of a troughing feature which has persisted across the central United States for much of the past few months. This shift will lead to continued wetter than normal conditions across Michigan, but with a noticeable increase in temperature.  Look for sunny, windy, and warmer weather Wednesday, April 16. A cool front will approach the state from the west on Thursday, bringing an increase in clouds and a chance for showers by late in the day. Given very slow eastward movement of the weather system, showers and a few thundershowers will be possible statewide for an extended period Thursday night through early Sunday morning, with best chances for precipitation across central and southern sections of the Lower Peninsula. Drier conditions are expected late Sunday and Monday. Precipitation totals for Thursday through Sunday should generally remain below 1 inch with most totals in the 0.25-0.50 inch range.

A second frontal system is forecast to approach the state by early next week, with more rainfall possible Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures will continue at above normal levels during the next few days, with highs ranging from the mid-50's north to near 70ºF south through Thursday. With cloudy skies expected late in the week, highs will fall back a few degrees to a range from the low or mid-50's north to the mid-60's by Friday continuing into the weekend. Low temperatures should range from the low 30's far north to the upper 40's south through Saturday. Normal temperatures for the third week in April range from highs near 50ºF north to 60ºF south, with lows falling to the mid-30's north to the upper 30's south.

In the medium‑range, forecast guidance strongly reflects the upper air pattern change noted above, with warmer than normal temperatures and above normal precipitation totals expected across Michigan and much of the Great Lakes Region during both 6-10 day and 8-14 day time frames covering April 21-25 and 23-29. Collectively, given the very slow start to the growing season thus far and the forecast for significantly warmer temperatures, a rapid increase in crop and insect phenological development is likely during the upcoming 1-2 weeks.

Long lead outlooks
In the longer term, outlooks are largely dependent on the longevity of a La Nina event currently in place across the equatorial Pacific region. For April through June, mean temperatures and precipitation totals in Michigan are forecast to remain in the “climatology scenario” with near equal odds of below, near and above normal values. However, milder and drier than normal conditions are forecast across much of the central United States for the upcoming summer months, including portions of Michigan. This outlook is associated with expectations that the current La Nina event will persist into the summer season, as La Nina events are statistically linked to drier than normal conditions in the Midwestern United States.

On the other hand, drought was a serious problem across many sections of Michigan during the 2007 growing season, and back to back growing season droughts in Michigan are very rare climatologically. At the least, the 2008 growing season will begin with a rooting zone at near field capacity in terms of soil moisture, which reduces the risk of vegetation running out of moisture later in the season.
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The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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