The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 23.
Many farmers were able to get a good start with planting this week. The week started with warm and dry weather, creating ideal soil conditions. Later, there were spotty showers that didn't yield much rain, but cooler temperatures were cause for some concern.
Average temperatures were 59.3 degrees, 5.1 degrees above normal for the state.
The amounts of rainfall varied from zero to 4.25 inches over the week.
There were 4.1 days available for fieldwork.
Regionally, corn was 7 percent planted in the north, 15 percent in central, and 34 percent in the south.
By region, winter wheat jointed was 29 percent in the north, 43 percent in central, and 78 percent in the south. Winter wheat was reported on average in good to excellent conditions. Wheat headed is ahead of last year and the five-year average.
Soybean planting has also started and mint planting is nearing completion. Weather had slowed planting in some areas, but progress continued.
Pastures and livestock were reported on average to be in good condition.
Other activities for the week included spraying burndown and other herbicides, application of dry fertilizers, indoor activities, delivery of stored grain to market and visiting FSA offices.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 4 percent; adequate, 74 percent; surplus, 21 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 6 percent; adequate, 79 percent; surplus, 14 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2016 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 15, 4, 10, 13; corn emerged, 2, 0, 0, 2; soybeans planted, 3, 0, 2, 3; winter wheat jointing, 51, 36, 66, 47; winter wheat headed, 18, 3, 3, 5.