Record setting heat early in the week gave way to cooler temperatures and some much needed rainfall, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures in the mid to upper 90’s pushed crops closer to maturity around the state. Some of the corn and soybean acreage, that is not too mature, will benefit from last week’s rain. Harvest of both corn and soybeans has begun in some of the earliest planted fields. A few elevators have offered premiums and reduced drying costs to entice farmers to begin harvesting corn. Dairy operations were rapidly harvesting corn silage before moisture levels dropped too low.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 6.3 days suitable for field work during the week. Ninety-eight percent of the corn acreage is in the dough stage compared with 100 percent last year and 98 percent for the 5-year average. Eighty-two percent of the corn acreage is in the dent stage compared with 95 percent last year and 83 percent for the 5-year average. Twenty-two percent of the corn crop is mature compared with 62 percent last week and 40 percent for the 5-year average. By area 22 percent of the corn crop is mature in the north, 19 percent in the central region, and 28 percent in the south. Corn condition is rated 64 percent good to excellent compared with 11 percent last year at this time.
Forty percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with 61 percent last year and 44 percent for the 5-year average. By area 42 percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves in the north, 45 percent in the central region, and 23 percent in the south. Soybean condition is now rated 56 percent good to excellent compared with 28 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 29 percent good to excellent compared with only 15 percent last year at this time.
Source: NASS