The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending July 26.
Sunshine throughout the week helped to dry out saturated fields and improve the growth of corn and soybeans.
This past week had the highest days suitable for fieldwork in several weeks, and farmers took advantage of it to spray fields, cut and bale hay, and wrap up wheat harvest.
There were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork, 2.5 days higher than the previous week.
Winter wheat harvest was winding down last week; some farmers reported using wheat for livestock feed instead of putting on market due to high dockage for poor quality.
Corn was reported as greening up, but short; tasseling and growth has been unbalanced in many areas of the same fields, as some plants are more mature than others. Some corn has responded to late applications of nitrogen but some areas still appear to have really low levels of nitrogen.
Soybeans continued to put out new leaves and blossoms, but a number of growers reported fields where the plants lack significant growth.
More operators indicated that double-crop soybeans will not be planted this year, but some producers are still trying.
Some corn and soybean fields were sprayed for weeds, but some are contemplating whether it was worth the cost, time, and effort given the poor crop conditions.
Livestock were reported in good condition with only two days of extreme muggy conditions last week.
Other activities for the week included harvesting mint, cantaloupe and watermelon, hauling grain to market, mowing roadsides and farmsteads, and attending county fairs.
Regionally, winter wheat harvested was 84 percent in the north, 92 percent in central, and 96 percent in the south.
Soybeans blooming was 67 percent complete in the north, 68 percent in central and 74 percent in the south.
By region, soybeans rated good to excellent condition were 41 percent in the north, 41 percent in central and 43 percent in the south.
Corn silking was 67 percent complete in the north, 69 percent in central and 89 percent in south. By region, corn rated good to excellent condition were 40 percent in the north, 46 percent in central and 56 percent in the south.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, —; short, 2 percent; adequate, 59 percent; surplus, 39 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, —; short, 1 percent; adequate, 55 percent; surplus, 44 percent.
Average soil temperatures (4-inch depth) were 85 at Wanatah and 79 at West Lafayette.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2014 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 72, 50, 85, 83; corn doughed, 5, NA, 11, 13; soybeans blooming, 69, 52, 82, 74; soybeans setting pods, 36, 18, 48, 35; winter wheat harvested, 91, 72, 97, 99; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 65, 35, 87, 88; other hay, first cutting, 96, 94, –1, –1; other hay, second cutting, 58, 35, 84, –1.