Farmers sprayed and sidedressed their fields as weather permitted for the week ending June 22, but dramatic rains in Central and Northern regions halfway through the week kept farmers out of their fields through the weekend according to the USDA, NASS, Great Lakes Region. Average temperatures ranged from 71 to 83 degrees, or three to ten degrees above normal. The lowest recorded temperature was 50 degrees while the highest was 94. The statewide average temperature for the week was 77.4 degrees, 5.1 degrees warmer than normal. Recorded precipitation ranged from 0.00 to 3.79 inches, with a statewide average of 1.12 inches.
Indiana corn condition Monday was rated at 74% good to excellent, the same as the national rating. That national rating represents a 2% drop from last week. Seventy percent of the Indiana soybean crop is rated good to excellent, 2 points behind the national number. Last week’s 73% national good to excellent rating is 1 percent better than the latest report.
Regionally, soybeans emerged was at 97% in the North, 93% in Central, and 78% in South with a statewide average of 91%. Winter wheat coloring was 66% in the North, 76% in Central, and 87% in South. Winter wheat harvest was 33% concluded in the South, while Central had only begun at 1% and North not at all at 0%. Total statewide harvest is at 13%.
Conditions were similar to last week with rain and warm temperatures prevailing for the majority of days. Fields prone to flooding saw even more flooding from the week’s downpour. In the South and in other areas where fieldwork was possible, farmers finished the very last of their soybean planting and worked on spraying and fertilizer applications. Hay cutting was difficult for wetter parts of the state, and the midweek rains caused some damage to last week’s cut hay that had been left in the open to dry. Although hindering fieldwork, the rains along with warm temperatures have been excellent for crop growth, and the majority of corn, winter wheat, soybeans and pasture surveyed were in good or better condition. When not working the fields, farmers were hauling grain, tending to machinery, certifying acres with the FSA, and mowing roadsides.
Source: NASS