Farmers Have a Warm, Dry Week
Published: Friday, September 1, 2023
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 27.
Soil moisture levels remained adequate for many despite an abnormally hot week. Soil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 73% of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 78.8 degrees F, 6.4 degrees above normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from none to 3.53 inches over the week.
The statewide average precipitation was .46 inches, .22 inches below normal.
There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Additional rain was desired by many Indiana growers as harvest season approaches. Corn dough and dent progress each continued behind their respective five-year averages.
Corn was rated 67% in good to excellent condition. Corn harvested for silage progress was in line with its five-year average pace.
Soybean blooming was all but complete with 70% of soybeans rated in good to excellent condition.
Third cuttings of alfalfa and other hay were taken when possible.
Higher temperatures caused stress for some livestock. Pasture conditions declined from the previous week with 50% of pastures rated in good to excellent condition.
Other activities for the week included disease monitoring, irrigation system maintenance, watermelon harvesting and hay baling.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 6%; short, 21%; adequate, 71%; surplus, 2%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 9%; short, 23%; adequate, 66%; surplus, 2%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2022 and five-year average) showed: corn dough, 82, 71, 86, 85; corn dented, 32, 12, 35, 42; corn harvested for silage, 10, 1, 8, 10; soybeans blooming, 95, 94, 99, 98; soybeans setting pods, 88, 80, 89, 88; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 73, 58, 74, 73; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 13, 2, 4, 9; other hay, second cutting, 95, 90, 91, 95; other hay, third cutting, 46, 34, 36, 48.
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