Hot, Dry Week Saps Soil Moisture
Published: Friday, July 1, 2022
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending June 26.
Another hot and dry week raised concerns for crop conditions throughout the state. Soil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with only 42 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 74.6 degrees F, 1.9 degrees above normal. The amount of rainfall varied from .00 to .88 inches over the week.
The statewide average precipitation was .28 inches, .61 inches below normal.
There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork.
Dry weather continued last week causing corn and soybeans to show signs of stress due to lack of moisture in some areas. Corn and soybean crop conditions both declined from the previous week. Irrigation was running where available.
The dry conditions pushed winter wheat toward maturity, surpassing the five-year average, and harvest was well underway.
Hay harvest pushed forward, but the dry conditions slowed growth in hay fields and pastures. The high heat indexes caused concern for livestock producers.
Other activities for the week included spraying herbicides, mowing roadsides, hauling grain and certifying acres.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 15 percent; short, 43 percent; adequate, 40 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 11 percent; short, 37 percent; adequate, 50 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2021 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 0, 0, 1, 2; soybeans emerged, 96, 89, 99, 89; soybeans blooming, 3, N/A, 7, 7; winter wheat mature, 79, 47, 76, 74; winter wheat harvested, 32, 7, 23, 27; alfalfa hay, first cutting, 96, 90, 99, 92; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 28, 15, 31, N/A; other hay, first cutting, 90, 79, 93, 88; other hay, second cutting, 28, 18, 18, N/A.
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