Planting Season Begins in Indiana
Published: Friday, May 3, 2024
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 28.
Indiana farmers made planting progress where field conditions allowed, but some fields remained too wet to be worked.
Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 94% rated adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 54 degrees F, .9 degrees below normal.
The statewide average precipitation was .80 inches, .02 inches below normal.
There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork.
A return to average precipitation levels during the past week allowed for limited progress on corn and soybean plantings.
Planting progress for both crops remained behind the 5-year average at 8% planted.
Despite frost events, winter wheat crop conditions were rated 78% good to excellent, a slight improvement from last week.
Winter wheat progress continued ahead of the 5-year average. Cold, wet weather conditions presented difficulties for calving.
Other activities for the week included tillage, fertilizer and pesticide applications, and harvesting asparagus and strawberry crops.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0%; short, 6%; adequate, 69%; surplus, 25%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 2%; short, 9%; adequate, 71%; surplus, 18%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn planted, 8, 2, 17, 13; soybeans planted, 8, 2, 15, 9; winter wheat jointing, 61, 43, 65, 54; winter wheat headed, 7, 0, 4, 2.
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