The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 18.
Mild weather patterns allowed harvest to progress and farmers to begin planting cover crops.
Temperatures across the state remained above average for the week, which helped to dry out the fields somewhat. The statewide average temperature was 70.3 degrees, 4.1 degrees above normal.
Spotty rain showers came in over the weekend, slowing harvest down in areas that received increased precipitation.
Statewide precipitation averaged 1.01 inches, above average by .26 inches. There were 5.1 days available for fieldwork for the week ending Sept. 18, up .6 days from the previous week.
Corn matured was 48 percent complete in the north, 60 percent in central and 65 percent in the south. Corn harvested for grain was 3 percent complete in the north, 6 percent in central, and 17 percent in the south.
Corn harvested for silage was 74 percent complete in the north, 63 percent in central, and 75 percent in the south.
Corn harvest continues to make slow progress, partially due to the humid conditions keeping the moisture content above the optimal level. Some farmers have reported white mold and diplodia ear rot.
Corn rated in good to excellent condition was 74 percent in the north, 78 percent in central, and 63 percent in the south.
Soybeans dropping leaves were 49 percent complete in the north, 51 percent in central, and 29 percent in the south.
Soybeans were 3 percent harvested in the north, 2 percent in central, and 1 percent in the south. Harvest is just beginning throughout the state for beans. Farmers have reported that many fields continue to have high weed pressure, which has led to lodging and an increased risk for mold.
Soybeans rated in good to excellent condition was 78 percent in the north, 79 percent in central, and 64 percent in the south.
The warm temperatures and moderate rainfall has kept most pastures lush. Those that had previously flooded from excess moisture remained saturated, but growers expect it to be in good condition through fall.
Cutting and baling of hay and alfalfa has begun to wind down. Winter wheat planting progress continued to be slow as farmers get the beans off the fields.
Other activities for the week included seeding cover crops, preparing harvest equipment, harvesting apples, and mowing roadsides.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2015 and 5-year average) showed: corn dented, 95, 88, 86, 88; corn mature, 56, 35, 47, 45; corn harvested for grain, 7, 3, 6, 7; corn harvested for silage, 72, 50, NA, NA; soybeans dropping leaves, 45, 26, 56, 52; soybeans harvested, 2, 0, 4, 3; winter wheat planted, 3, 2, 2, 2; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 95, 89, 89, 95; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 45, 31, 31, NA; other hay, second cutting, 95, 94, 100, NA; other hay, third cutting, 69, 58, 77, NA; tobacco harvested, 54, 39, 72, NA.