Rain showers, both early and late in the week, slowed harvest progress across most of the state, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Remnants from Hurricane Isaac moved slower than expected causing much of the heavy rain to fall across portions of Illinois and Missouri before reaching Indiana. Soybean producers are very hopeful that recent precipitation will help pods to fill in the later planted fields. Many hay fields have shown good re-growth and will allow for a much needed additional cutting before winter.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 5.5 days suitable for field work during the week. Eighty-five percent of the corn acreage is in the dent stage compared to 53 percent last year and 59 percent for the 5-year average. Thirty-two percent of the corn acreage is mature compared to 8 percent last year and 14 percent for the 5-year average. Six percent of the corn acreage has been harvested compared to 0 percent last year and 1 percent for the 5-year average. Corn condition is rated 8 percent good to excellent compared with 34 percent last year at this time.
Twenty-six percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared to 8 percent last year and 14 percent for the 5-year average. One percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared to 0 percent for both last year and the 5-year average.
Soybean condition is now rated 20 percent good to excellent compared with 40 percent last year at this time.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
Livestock remain in mostly good condition. Pasture condition is rated 8 percent good to excellent compared with 12 percent last year at this time. Third cutting of alfalfa hay is 90 percent complete compared with 88 percent last year and 84 percent for the 5-year average.
Source: Indiana NASS