Indiana Crops Continue to Wither With Lack of Rain

Lafayette Corn Sep 2013Warm daytime temperatures and little rain took its toll on the corn and soybean crops, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Many corn fields are reported to be “dying prematurely” which is causing concern as to the effect on final grain weight. Soybean fields are rapidly turning color and shedding leaves with some reports of aborted pods and small beans. A few operations began harvesting corn last week mainly to try out equipment and test grain moisture. Dry conditions have also reduced yields in late season hay crops. Harvest of seed corn, processing tomatoes, corn silage, mint and tobacco was in full swing during the week.

FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 6.6 days suitable for field work during the week. Ninety-five percent of the corn acreage is in the dough stage compared with 100 percent last year and 96 percent for the 5-year average. Sixty-seven percent of the corn acreage is in the dent stage compared with 90 percent last year and 72 percent for the 5-year average. Nine percent of the corn crop is mature compared with 45 percent last week and 26 percent for the 5-year average. By area 8 percent of the corn crop is mature in the north, 7 percent in the central region, and 17 percent in the south. Corn condition is rated 61 percent good to excellent compared with 9 percent last year at this time.

Thirteen percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with 39 percent last year and 26 percent for the 5-year average. By area 11 percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves in the north, 16 percent in the central region, and 7 percent in the south. Soybean condition declined and is now rated 55 percent good to excellent compared with 24 percent last year.

LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
Livestock were in mostly good condition with only minor heat stress reported. Pasture condition continued to decline during the week but is still rated 32 percent good to excellent compared with only 13 percent last year at this time. The third cutting of alfalfa is 96 percent complete compared with 93 percent last year and 92 percent for the 5-year average.

Source: NASS

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