Wheat Watchers Week of May 17, 2026
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EmailSee how the wheat crop is progressing across the state this week.
Welcome to the sixth edition of this season’s Wheat Watchers! This report will come out weekly until most of the state hits flower and then will switch to bi-weekly until most of the state has harvested. This report is only possible because of our agribusiness and farmers who participate as Wheat Watchers. If you are interested in being a wheat watcher, especially if you see your area isn’t represented, please reach out to Michigan State University Extension field crops educator Jenna Falor at falorjen@msu.edu.
Overall, this week reporters are seeing wheat ranging from Feekes 6–10.5.3. This means the first wheat in Michigan has hit flower while the northernmost is just hitting Feekes 6.
Southwest Michigan
We had three wheat watchers reporting from the southwest region: one from St. Joseph County near Centreville, one from Allegan County near Wayland and the other from Barry County near Hickory Corners. The watcher in St. Joseph County reports wheat has reached Feekes 10.5.1 (flowering beginning) and fungicide applications for head scab will be going out soon. The watcher in Barry County reports wheat is at Feekes 10.5.2–10.5.3, and in Allegan County wheat is at 10.5.1.
Southeast Michigan
We had one wheat watcher reporting from the southeast region in Jackson County near Jackson. Wheat is at Feekes 10–10.3. This watcher reports seeing some foliar disease in the area.
East central (Thumb) Michigan
We had one wheat watcher reporting from the Thumb in Huron County near Ubly. Wheat is at Feekes 7–8. Many farmers were able to get out with herbicide/nitrogen passes. There are some signs of 28% burn and herbicide burn have become more pronounced this week. Thankfully, very little disease pressure is being found in fields.
Central Michigan
We had two wheat watchers reporting from the central region: one in Isabella County near Mt. Pleasant and one who scouted in Lapeer County near Mayville and Saginaw County near Richville. Both watchers report wheat is around Feekes 8–9. Overall, wheat is looking good but the watcher near Richville says wheat is starting to dry.
West central Michigan
We had one wheat watcher reporting from the west central region in Kent County. Wheat has reached Feekes 9–10. Several fields are showing signs of herbicide damage, and some fields show possible nitrogen deficiencies due to all the rain. Several farmers who usually do split applications combined nitrogen passes this year to save money on fuel, and they reduced nitrogen rates as well. The watcher anticipates a shorter plant height this year due to several cold nights.
North Michigan
We had one wheat watcher reporting from the north region in Montmorency County near Hillman. Wheat is at Feekes 6–7. Fields have been fertilized and some received a herbicide application. There is a concern for frost on Thursday, May 21. The region received a lot of rain Sunday into Monday, 2-3 inches in places, resulting in standing water in some fields.
Other notes
Marty Chilvers, PhD, has an ongoing fungicide resistance monitoring project. He is requesting that if you have any wheat plants you believe are showing signs of fungicide resistance to submit them to MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics. The Michigan Wheat Program will cover the cost of sample diagnostics. Chilvers will work with Jan Byrne, PhD, plant pathology diagnostician at the lab, to isolate any wheat foliar fungi that is present.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
