Ideal Weather Allows for Fieldwork
Published: Friday, August 16, 2024
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Aug. 11.
Minimal rain allowed producers to make progress with fieldwork.
Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 68% rated adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 72.4 degrees F, .4 degrees below normal.
The statewide average precipitation was .26 inches, .69 inches below normal.
There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
Cooler weather and fewer rain events were helpful for drying out fields that remained under water, while areas that were already dry reported signs of stress.
Producers report that disease pressure had been lower with the dryer conditions.
Corn and soybean crop conditions remained steady despite the lack of precipitation.
Corn silking and soybean blooming progress both continued ahead of their respective five-year average paces.
Hay third cuttings made good progress and were no longer as far behind compared to previous years.
Other activities included fungicide treatments, mowing field edges and preparing harvest machinery.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn silking, 94, 89, 93, 92; corn dough, 55, 40, 50, 51; corn dented, 11, 2, 1, 5; soybeans blooming, 91, 86, 89, 87; soybeans setting pods, 73, 60, 67, 62; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 95, 92, 94, 95; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 39, 24, 38, 42; other hay, second cutting, 77, 66, 83, 83; other hay, third cutting, 21, 12, 21, 24.
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