Mild weather and little rain allowed more farmers to begin harvesting corn and soybeans across the state, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Harvesting of soybeans jumped slightly ahead of corn this week, with the corn harvest running about one week behind the 5-year average, as some farmers are giving corn more time to dry down. The fourth cutting of hay has begun or will begin shortly, with reports of hay in good condition. Winter wheat planting has also started in some parts of the state, and fall tillage and chemical applications are underway in fields that are open.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 6.2 days suitable for field work during the week. Ninety-five percent of the corn acreage is in the dent stage compared with 100 percent last year and 95 percent for the 5-year average. Sixty-six percent of the corn acreage is mature compared with 90 percent last year and 68 percent for the 5-year average. Thirteen percent of the corn crop has been harvested compared with 34 percent last year and 22 percent for the 5-year average. By area 72 percent of the corn crop is mature in the north, 63 percent in the central region, and 61 percent in the south. Corn condition is rated 65 percent good to excellent compared with 11 percent last year at this time. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 23 percent.
Eighty percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with 87 percent last year and 79 percent for the 5-year average. Sixteen percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared to 17 percent last year and 19 percent for the 5-year average. By area 86 percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves in the north, 84 percent in the central region, and 65 percent in the south. Soybean condition is now rated 60 percent good to excellent compared with 29 percent last year. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 13 percent.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
Livestock were in mostly good condition due to the relatively mild temperatures. Pasture condition was rated 26 percent good to excellent compared with 24 percent last year at this time.
Source: NASS