Corn Planting Hits Halfway Mark
Published: Friday, May 15, 2020
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending May 10.
Planters were rolling throughout the state last week thanks to the relatively dry weather, though unseasonably cold temperatures caused concern for already emerged crops. Soil moisture levels decreased slightly from the previous week.
The average temperature for the week was 49 degrees Fahrenheit, 9.8 degrees below normal. The amount of rainfall varied from none to 2.75 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was .57 inches.
There were 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
The unusually cold weather didn't slow corn and soybean plantings too much, with both staying well ahead of the five-year average.
The low temperatures did raise concerns for potential frost damage to winter wheat and any other emerged crops. Winter wheat conditions remained stable.
Pasture conditions were in line with the five-year average, though the cool temperatures and limited rainfall last week slowed growth.
Other activities for the week included tillage, herbicide and fertilizer applications, and marketing grain.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 5 percent; adequate, 72 percent; surplus, 23 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 5 percent; adequate, 78 percent; surplus, 17 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2019 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 51, 33, 5, 42; corn emerged, 13, 4, 1, 15; soybeans planted, 37, 22, 2, 18; soybeans emerged, 7, 2, 0, 2; winter wheat jointing, 76, 65, 69, 79; winter wheat headed, 23, 1, 23, 29.
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