A dry week left many growers throughout Indiana in need of rain, which also led to lower crop condition ratings.
Indiana’s corn and soybean crops are both rated at 66 percent good-to-excellent, according to the latest USDA Crop Progress Report.
This week’s percentages represent a one-percentage point decrease for corn and a four-percentage point decrease for soybeans—which were rated at 67 and 70 percent respectively last week.
Across the U.S., 53 percent of both corn and soybeans are rated good-to-excellent, which represents a drop from 54 and 57 percent respectively from the previous week.
In addition, 92 percent of corn is now in the dough stage, 51 percent is now dented and four percent is mature.
For soybeans, 92 percent are setting pods and six percent are dropping leaves.
“Soil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 58 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus, down 15 points from the week previous,” according to Nathanial Warenski, State Statistician with the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Indiana Field Office.
“The average temperature for the week was 71.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 0.3 degrees above normal for the State. The amount of rainfall varied from none to 0.25 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was at zero inches, 0.55 inches below normal. There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending September 3,” says Warenski.
Indiana’s pastures are rated at 42 percent good-to-excellent.
