The first hard frost swept the state, allowing farmers to finish up harvest on more challenging fields, according to Greg Matli, Indiana State Statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The statewide average temperature was 47.1 degrees, 4.0 degrees above normal. Much of the South remains in a moderate drought receiving very little relief from the previous week. Statewide precipitation was 0.15 inches, below average by 0.68 inches. There were 6.1 days available for fieldwork for the week ending November 13, up 0.3 days from the previous week.
Corn harvested for grain was 92% complete in the North, 95% in Central and 97% in the South. Soybeans harvested were 96% complete in the North, 97% in Central, and 95% in the South. Winter wheat planted was 96% complete in the North, 95% in Central, and 97% in the South. Winter wheat was 95% emerged in the North, 83% in Central, and 85% in the South.
Due to the mostly dry week, both corn and bean growers are nearly complete with harvest. Most of the remaining stands are in fields that are too wet to harvest. At this point, farmers have switched to fall tillage and fertilizer spreading as primary activities. Livestock continued to enjoy grazing on pastures before they go dormant for the winter. Other activities included planting cover crops, certifying fall acreage with FSA, cleaning harvest equipment, and hauling grain.