Planting Progress Falls Behind Pace
Published: Friday, May 3, 2019
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 28.
Rain continued last week, pushing planting progress further behind schedule. Above average rainfall throughout the state kept farmers out of the fields for most of the week and further increased already high soil moisture levels.
The average temperature for the week was 53.8 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.1 degrees below normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from .49 inches to 3.36 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was 1.68 inches.
There were 1.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Fieldwork remained limited last week and wet, cold weather pushed the percent of corn planted well below the five-year average.
Winter wheat growth progressed with percent jointing remaining in line with the five-year average, however, continually high soil moisture levels negatively impacted the crop condition.
Livestock were reported to be in good condition with calving progressing, despite muddy conditions.
Other activities for the week included spring tillage, spreading fertilizer, applying anhydrous ammonia, spraying burndown herbicides and preparing machinery for planting.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 0 percent; adequate, 34 percent; surplus, 66 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 1 percent; adequate, 38 percent; surplus, 61 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2018 and 5-year average) showed: corn, planted 2, 1, 7, 17; winter wheat, jointing 52, 39, 52, 55; winter wheat, headed 1, 1, 3, 9.
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