Dry Indiana Areas Welcome Rain
Published: Friday, June 8, 2018
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending June 3.
Rain storms midweek increased soil moisture levels but more rain is desired in some areas.
Rainfall slowed planting progress but was welcomed after about a week of above average temperatures. The average temperature for the week 76.1 degrees, 9.3 degrees above normal for the state.
The amounts of rainfall varied from .15 inches to 5.33 inches over the week. The statewide average for precipitation was 1.58 inches.
There were 4.5 days available for fieldwork.
Regionally, corn was 92 percent planted in the north, 99 percent in central, and 92 percent in the south. Corn was 86 percent emerged in the north, 95 percent in central, and 83 percent in the south.
Soybeans were 93 percent planted in the north, 98 percent in central, and 86 percent in the south. Soybeans were 78 percent emerged in the north, 87 percent in central, and 64 percent in the south.
Winter wheat was 93 percent jointed in the north, 97 percent in central, and 98 percent in the south. Winter wheat was 79 percent headed in the north, 90 percent in central, and 95 percent in the south.
Most of Sullivan, Knox, Greene and Daviess were identified as abnormally dry earlier in the week by the U.S. Drought Monitor. These counties received rainfall, but it was accompanied by damaging severe weather conditions.
Storms brought heavy rains and gusty winds that battered some hay and wheat fields. There were reports of some counties reaching record levels of rainfall.
The rain helped to speed up emergence of later planted corn and soybeans. Winter wheat headed but short.
Many farmers were able to cut and bale hay during the week despite the rain. Livestock experienced some stress during the 90+ degree days over the past week, but are in good condition.
Other activities for the week included side dressing, spraying weeds, application of fertilizer and herbicides, tiling, hauling grain, mowing roadsides and some tillage work.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 4 percent; short, 23 percent; adequate, 61 percent; surplus, 12 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 5 percent; short, 24 percent; adequate, 64 percent; surplus, 7 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2017 and 5-year average) showed: corn, planted 98, 95, 90, 94; corn, emerged 89, 81, 72, 79; soybeans, planted 94, 87, 72, 79; soybeans, emerged 79, 63, 45, 53; winter wheat, jointing 99, 96, NA, NA; winter wheat, headed 88, 75, 95, 90; winter wheat, mature 5, 0, 20, NA; winter wheat, harvested, 0, 0, 1, 0; alfalfa hay, first cutting 68, 46, 60, 57; other hay, first cutting 53, 27, 46, NA.
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