Cold Weather Delays Crop Growth
Published: Friday, May 21, 2021
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending May 16.
A relatively dry week allowed for planting progress in most areas, but the cooler temperatures slowed crop development.
Soil moisture levels decreased slightly from the previous week, with 92 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 52.7 degrees F, 8.5 degrees below normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from none to 2.04 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was .52 inches.
There were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork.
Heavy rains to start the week briefly stalled planting progress, but growers made up for it throughout the rest of the relatively dry week.
Corn and soybean planting progress lagged the previous year but remained ahead of the five-year average. Emergence for both crops was progressing ahead of schedule.
Winter wheat jointing was right in line with the five-year average, though the percent headed lagged the five-year average.
Winter wheat conditions decreased slightly from the previous week, as concerns remained due to the continued cold weather throughout much of spring.
Livestock were reported in good condition, and pasture conditions remained stable from the previous week.
Other activities for the week included herbicide and fertilizer applications, equipment maintenance and marketing livestock.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 7 percent; adequate, 76 percent; surplus, 16 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 3 percent; short, 12 percent; adequate, 75 percent; surplus, 10 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 62, 46, 69, 54; corn emerged, 34, 18, 28, 28; soybeans planted, 50, 36, 53, 33; soybeans emerged, 22, 12, 16, 10; winter wheat jointing, 86, 79, 86, 86; winter wheat headed, 33, 22, 34, 45.
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