Strong storms moved across parts of the state during the week leaving standing water in many crop fields and causing some wind damage, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Some re-planting will be necessary in drowned out spots. In southern counties, a minimal amount of intended corn acres have been switched to soybeans or grain sorghum due to the delay in planting. Many operations continued cutting hay, spraying herbicides, side dressing corn and mowing roadsides and ditches as weather permitted. The winter wheat crop is nearing maturity and harvest will soon begin in southern counties.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 4.2 days suitable for field work during the week. Ninety-seven percent of the corn acreage has emerged compared with 100 percent last year, 94 percent for the 5-year average and 92 percent nationally. Corn condition is rated 73 percent good to excellent compared with 37 percent last year at this time and 64 percent nationally.
Ninety-three percent of the intended soybean acreage has been planted compared with 100 percent last year, 88 percent for the 5-year average and 85 percent nationally. By area, 99 percent of the soybean acreage has been planted in the north, 96 percent in the central region and 76 percent in the south. Eighty-three percent of the soybean acreage has emerged compared with 97 percent last year and 77 percent for the 5-year average.
Virtually all of the winter wheat acreage is headed and is racing toward maturity. Winter wheat condition is rated 74 percent good to excellent compared with 56 percent last year at this time.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
Livestock remained in good health. Pasture condition is rated 78 percent good to excellent compared with 20 percent last year at this time. First cutting of alfalfa hay is 78 percent complete compared with 99 percent last year and 82 percent for the 5-year average.
Source: NASS