A Wet Week, Courtesy of Gordon
Published: Friday, September 14, 2018
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 9.
Heavy rains the latter half of the week saturated fields and delayed fieldwork. The remnants of tropical storm Gordon moved through Indiana, bringing above average rainfall throughout with some reports of high winds.
The average temperature for the week was 73.6 degrees, 4 degrees above normal for the state.
The amount of rainfall varied from .36 inches to 6.48 inches during the week.
The statewide average for precipitation was 3.45 inches.
There were 4.2 days available for fieldwork.
The heavy rains delayed fieldwork but gave farmers a chance to continue preparing for corn and soybean harvests, though a handful had already begun.
Seed corn, processing tomato and cucumber harvests were underway where the weather allowed.
Pastures were rejuvenated by the rainfall and subsequent cooler temperatures also benefitted livestock after what had previously been hot and humid weather.
Other activities for the week included hauling grain to elevators, mowing roadsides, and preparing equipment for the upcoming harvest.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 8 percent; adequate, 55 percent; surplus, 36 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 8 percent; adequate, 65 percent; surplus, 26 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2017 and 5-year average) showed: corn dented, 86, 74, 74, 74; corn mature, 40, 23, 24, 22; corn harvested for silage, 57, 36, 29, NA; soybeans dropping leaves, 41, 21, 24, 23; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 90, 85, 94, NA; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 32, 21, 34, NA; other hay, third cutting, 76, 67, 83, NA.
Return to Top of Page