Cooler temperatures and scattered rainfall helped keep Indiana’s crop conditions on par with last week’s ratings.
Indiana’s corn crops are now rated at 66 percent good-to-excellent, while the state’s soybeans are at 68 percent good-to-excellent according to the latest USDA Crop Progress Report.
This week’s percentages are one percentage point lower for corn and unchanged for soybeans—which were rated at 67 and 68 percent respectively last week.
In addition, 97 percent of Indiana’s corn is silking, while 71 percent of corn is now in the dough stage and 12 percent is now denting.
For soybeans, 94 percent are blooming and 80 percent are now setting pods.
“Soil moisture levels increased slightly from the previous week, with 79 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus,” according to Nathanial Warenski, State Statistician with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Indiana Field Office.
“The average temperature for the week was 68.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 4.8 degrees below normal for the State. The amount of rainfall varied from none to 4.87 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was 0.96 inches, 0.11 inches above normal. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Aug. 20,” says Warenski.
Indiana’s pastures are rated at 55 percent good-to-excellent.