Harvests of Corn, Soybeans Begin
Published: Friday, October 11, 2019
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Oct. 6.
Another hot and dry week pushed crops toward maturity as harvest picked up.
The unusually dry week with only spotty rainfall was ideal for fieldwork but kept soil moisture levels well below both the previous year and the five-year average.
The average temperature for the week was 69 degrees Fahrenheit, 10.2 degrees above normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from none to .87 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was .34 inches.
There were 6 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn and soybean harvest was underway in earnest last week, particularly on early planted fields, while some of the late planted fields were still working their way towards maturity.
Winter wheat planting progressed last week, running slightly behind the five-year average, though some areas in the south reported soils too dry for planting.
The dry conditions in the south slowed pasture growth and caused some producers to start feeding hay. Livestock were reported to be healthy and putting on weight.
Other activities for the week included planting cover crops, cutting brush and attending fall fairs.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 22 percent; short, 30 percent; adequate, 44 percent; surplus, 4 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 19 percent; short, 33 percent; adequate, 45 percent; surplus, 3 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2018 and 5-year average) showed: corn, dented 91, 84, 100, 100; corn, mature 56, 41, 94, 87; corn, harvested for grain 15, 8, 37, 29; soybeans, dropping leaves 66, 49, 93, 90; soybeans, harvested 14, 6, 38, 33; winter wheat, planted 17, 7, 29, 25; winter wheat, emerged 3, 0, 9, 7; alfalfa hay, third cutting 96, 94, 100, 100; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting 58, 49, 79, 76; other hay, third cutting 88, 84, 94, 95; other hay, fourth cutting 38, 24, 55, NA.
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