Showers Help Out Corn, Soybeans
Published: Friday, June 15, 2018
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending June 10.
Spotty rain showers helped improve crop conditions. Precipitation was highly variable, with some locations receiving downpours leading to ponding and light showers elsewhere.
As of last Tuesday, the U.S. Drought Monitor identified a stretch of abnormally dry ground stretching from Vincennes in the Southwest to Marion in Central Indiana. This swath passes south of Lebanon and North of Bloomington. Portions of Lake and Jasper counties were also dry.
Most crops benefited from the rain and cooler temperatures. However, some fields experienced high winds and hail damage.
The average temperature for the week 70.8 degrees, 2 degrees above normal for the state.
The amounts of rainfall varied from zero inches to 4.50 inches over the week. The statewide average for precipitation was 1.05 inches.
There were 5.2 days available for fieldwork.
Regionally, corn was 97 percent emerged in the north, 99 percent in central, and 93 percent in the south.
Soybeans were 96 percent planted in the north, 99 percent in central, and 92 percent in the south. Soybeans were 88 percent emerged in the north, 94 percent in central, and 78 percent in the south.
Winter wheat was 97 percent headed in the north, 96 percent in central, and 99 percent in the south. Winter wheat mature was 11 percent in the north, 25 percent in central, and 37 percent in the south.
Dry weather at the beginning of the week allowed for weed treatment and baling hay. The dry weather and signs of stress from crops prompted some farmers to irrigate midweek especially on specialty crops like tomatoes, crops on sandier soil and newly planted crops.
Corn and soybean stands look good but some fields experienced hail damage and weed infestation. Corn and soybeans planted acres are nearly complete but strong hail in isolated places has created a need for replanting. Livestock are reported to be in good condition.
Other activities for the week included fertilizer application, side dressing corn, and applying herbicides to corn and soybeans.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 4 percent; short, 19 percent; adequate, 61 percent; surplus, 16 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 5 percent; short, 20 percent; adequate, 65 percent; surplus, 10 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2017 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 100, 98, NA, NA; corn emerged, 97, 89, 84, 90; soybeans planted, 96, 94, 88, 89; soybeans emerged, 88, 79, 65, 72; winter wheat jointing, 100, 99, NA, NA; winter wheat headed, 97, 88, 99, 96; winter wheat mature, 24, 5, 43, NA; winter wheat harvested, 1, 0, 8, 2; alfalfa hay, first cutting, 85, 68, 84, 77; other hay, first cutting, 75, 53, 73, NA.
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