Corn and Soybeans Need Rain Now
Rain across the state is forecast for this weekend but, ahead of that, hot and dry conditions will continue. HAT meteorologist Ryan Martin says, “Temps will really start to push upwards today and will be well above normal as we finish the week tomorrow through Friday.” Martin sees rain on the way but not for several more days, “it looks like the front wants to stall over the Hoosier State this weekend. This has the potential to create some heavy rains and even concern about flooding in central and southwestern parts of the state. We can see rain totals from .25” to 3” or more.”
This year’s planting dates were very far apart with some of the crops planted in late April and the rest in late May. Yet development has evened out quite a bit, according to Mary Gumz with DuPont Pioneer. She told HAT some fields are at the R1 stage while others are starting to dent. Overall, however, she says the crops have evened out a lot since planting.
With the majority of the crop in the critical reproductive stage, the hot and dry conditions are causing problems and cutting yields. “Especially in areas north of Lafayette we are seeing a good deal os stress,” said Gumz. “South of Lafayette, the crops are in better shape from a moisture perspective but would still benefit from some rain.”
Gumz says, if the rains come this weekend, it will be just in time to halt further yield loss in corn and get the soybeans on their way to pod fill, “If we get rain over the next week, that would be outstanding.” She added soybeans need at least one more good rain or perhaps 2 to get them to the finish line. Gumz says yields are going to be good, but not as good as we saw in 2014 due to the weather stress we have seen this summer.
Martin’s long range forecast: “Dry weather returns for next week, Monday through Thursday. Temps will be cooler to start off the period, but will increase nicely through the week. Our next system pushes up from the SW later on the 18th and will likely bring scattered showers and a few thunderstorms to the state through the 19th. Rain totals can be anywhere form .25”-1”, but for now we will play things toward the lower end of the range. In the extended period, another strong front for the 22nd-23rd brings half to 1 inch rain potential with coverage at 80%. So…after some drier weather, we look to get very active through mid-month, and the pattern may try to hold through the rest of the month. These rains will be most beneficial to beans, but the corn crop won’t complain either.”
More information in the crops section.