The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending April 19.
Warmer temperatures and reduced rainfall yielded the first opportunities to plant corn.
Farmers had a short break from heavy rains, allowing fieldwork to commence and spring planting to begin. The increased temperatures have begun to firm up fields allowing equipment to apply nutrient supplements for the planting season.
There were 2.6 days suitable for fieldwork.
Regionally, winter wheat jointed was 4 percent complete in the north, 8 percent in central and 29 percent in the south.
Winter wheat continues to green up and be topdressed, although there has not been much new growth in the fields. Some farmers have begun to till up wheat fields due to the lack of nutrients, stagnant conditions and slow growth.
The warm temperatures have firmed up fields enough to get some planters out to begin planting this season's corn crop. Potato planting has also begun.
Pastures and hay fields are becoming green and growing well in most regions of the state.
Farmers are applying nitrogen, knifing in ammonia, and spreading fertilizer in the fields to gear up to plant as the weather conditions improve.
There are some concerns that the wet and cool spring conditions may limit weed control due to fewer burn downs. Other activities for the week included picking up seed, fixing tile, tilling fields and hauling grain.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 2 percent; adequate, 51 percent; surplus, 47 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 2 percent; adequate, 61 percent; surplus, 36 percent.
Average soil temperatures (4-inch depth) were 60 at Wanatah and 58 at West Lafayette.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2014 and 5-year average) showed: corn, planted 1, NA, 1, 13; winter wheat, jointing 15, NA, 21, 35; winter wheat, headed 1, NA, 0, 3.