Planting Progress Inches Forward
Published: Friday, May 24, 2019
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending May 19.
A cool, dry start to the week gave farmers a brief window for fieldwork. Producers were able to make a dent in planting progress before late week rains once again halted field activity.
The average temperature for the week was 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit, normal for the state.
The amount of rainfall varied from none to 1.51 inches over the week.
The statewide average precipitation was .74 inches. There were 3 days suitable for fieldwork.
Farmers were able to make some progress with corn and soybean planting before rains arrived later in the week, but progress was still lagging far behind the previous year and five-year average.
Winter wheat growth progressed steadily and crop condition remained stable. Some hay fields saw their first cuttings and pastures continued to green up.
Other activities included applying anhydrous ammonia, spraying herbicides, spring tillage and installing field tile.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 1 percent; adequate, 45 percent; surplus, 54 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 1 percent; adequate, 46 percent; surplus, 53 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2018 and 5-year average) showed: corn, planted 14, 6, 86, 73; corn, emerged 4, 1, 57, 45; soybeans, planted 6, 2, 70, 43; soybeans, emerged 1, NA, 34, 16; winter wheat, jointing 78, 72, 90, 90; winter wheat, headed 40, 28, 44, 53.
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