The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 23.
Scattered, light rain showers kept fields dry, leading to early dry-downs for corn and soybeans.
Some areas received the much-needed rainfall, which continued to green up crops, while others remained dry and have begun to turn brown.
Mild temperatures have slowed growth for hay and alfalfa, which is significantly behind last year's cuttings.
There were 5.8 days available for fieldwork, .3 days lower than the previous week.
Statewide, corn and soybean conditions remain under 50 percent good to excellent condition, with the reduced rainfall and below average temperatures.
Some of the early planted corn began to dry down, while other fields that are in poorer condition have started to be harvested for silage. The abnormally wet to dry season has left some of the corn and soybean crop stunted, nutrient deficient, with below average filling on ears and pods.
Foliar diseases have become more apparent in both corn and soybeans. Sudden Death Syndrome and frog eye leaf spot are present in soybeans, and some corn has shown signs of grey leaf spot.
Herbicide applications seem to have reduced weed pressures in the fields. The dry weather was good for harvesting hay and alfalfa, but the cut fields are slow to regrow with the below average temperatures and lack of rainfall leaving growers concerned about getting an additional cutting this year.
Commercial tomato and tobacco harvest has begun.
Some pastures started to brown slightly, but grazing livestock remain in good condition with low stress levels. Otherwise, farmers are keeping busy cleaning bins, servicing and preparing harvest equipment, mowing side ditches and roadsides and irrigating crops in anticipation of the upcoming harvest season.
Regionally, soybeans setting pods was 93 percent complete in the north, 85 percent in central, and 90 percent in the south.
Soybeans rated in good to excellent condition was 46 percent in the north, 48 percent in central, and 48 percent in the south.
By region, corn dented was 30 percent complete in the north, 34 percent in central, and 46 percent in the south.
Corn rated in good to excellent condition was 42 percent in the north, 48 percent in central, and 57 percent in the south.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 2 percent; short, 20 percent; adequate, 68 percent; surplus, 10 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 15 percent; adequate, 73 percent; surplus, 11 percent.
Average soil temperatures (4-inch depth) were 80 at Wanatah and 77 at West Lafayette.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2014 and 5-year average) showed: corn doughed, 80, 63, 81, 82; corn dented, 34, 16, 39, 43; soybeans blooming, 96, 94, 100, 99; soybeans setting pods, 89, 83, 93, 90; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 96, 94, 100, 100; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 47, 30, 66, 75; other hay, second cutting, 96, 94, 100, NA; other hay, third cutting, 34, 18, 57, NA; tobacco harvested, 3, 0, NA, NA.