Corn and soybean harvest made good progress but was temporarily slowed in some areas due to rain, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Isolated showers delivered heavy rainfall in some southern and central areas with some hail damage reported. Harvest is rapidly advancing even though crops have been slow to dry down. However, corn harvest is still well behind the record pace established in 2010 when
approximately 38 percent of the crop had been harvested at this time, and soybean harvest is also behind the record pace of 37 percent established in 1987. Pods in some soybean fields are mature but the stems remain green, forcing farmers to reduce combining speeds. Some hay was cut and baled with good yields reported.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 5.5 days suitable for field work during the week. Eighty-two percent of the corn acreage is mature compared to 46 percent last year and 56 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-six percent of the corn acreage has been harvested compared to 6 percent last year and 14 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 18 percent of the corn acreage has been harvested in the north, 21 percent in the central region, and 52 percent in the south. Corn condition is rated 11 percent good to excellent compared with 33 percent last year at this time. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 22 percent.
Eighty percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared to 55 percent last year and 67 percent for the 5-year average. Ten percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared to 2 percent last year and 11 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 9 percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested in the north, 11 percent in the central region, and 10 percent in the south. Soybean condition is now rated 27 percent good to excellent compared with 40 percent last year at this time. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 14.5 percent.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
Livestock remain in mostly good condition. Pasture condition is rated 18 percent good to excellent compared with 16 percent last year at this time.
Source: Indiana NASS