Crop Conditions Not Good in Eastern Corn Belt
The USDA released its first estimate of crop conditions. As expected, Indiana conditions are not good. According to the weekly crop report, 43% of Indiana corn is rated as good to excellent with 52% fair to poor and 5% very poor. Illinois corn was rated as 52% good to excellent and 45% fair to poor, and Ohio corn was rated as 49% good to excellent and 49% fair to poor. Nationally, the overall crop is rated as 72% good to excellent because of very good crops in western states, like Iowa, where 73% of the corn was rated as good to excellent.
Bill Meacham, with DuPont Pioneer, says in Southern Indiana the corn that planted in early April is in good shape, “The corn that was planted around April 10th is developing well and most is in theV6 stage. It was the corn that was planted around the 19th and 20th of April, just before the heavy rains, that is really struggling. There is a lot of replant going on.”
According to figures released on Tuesday, 81% of Indiana corn has been planted with 60% emerged and 54% of Hoosier soybeans planted, both behind average. With much of the crop still not planted or needing to be replanted, Meacham says it is almost time to think about making changes in maturity dates, “If you can get planted this week, then we recommend you stick with your original plan.” He added that corn planted next week may need to be adjusted for later planting.
While wheat condition was rated as 66 % in Indiana, Meacham says the crop looks in Southern Indiana looks to be in good shape, “It looks good for all that it has been through.”
Listen to the complete report under the agronomy tab.