Good weather conditions made for a great work week for farmers, according to Greg Matli, Indiana State Statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Conditions were favorable for drying saturated soils. There were 5.4 days available for fieldwork for the week ending September 4, up 1.7 days from the previous week.
Weather conditions put cutting and baling hay into full swing. Livestock were reported in good condition. Other activities this week included seeding cover crops, mowing weeds, harvest equipment preparation, grain bin maintenance, harvesting potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes, second crop cucumbers, and mint.
Corn dented was 76% in the North, 79% in Central, and 77% in the South. Corn is maturing faster than anticipated. Corn mature was 14% in the North, 23% in Central, and 25% in the South. Corn silage harvest continued. Seed corn harvest got underway after a wet August forced some growers to use fungicides and desiccants. A few growers began harvesting grain corn. Concerns persisted over molds and rust as well as stalk rots, mainly in the southern portion of the state. Corn rated in good to excellent condition.
By region, soybeans setting pods were 97% complete in the North, 97% in Central, and 96% in the South. Soybeans dropping leaves were 9% complete in the North, 16% in Central, and 7% in the South. Leaf drop lagged the five year average slightly. Sudden death and white mold were observed in some areas. There were a few reports of harvest activity. Soybeans rated in good to excellent condition were 76% in the North, 80% in Central, and 66% in the South.