Planters Idle Due to Soggy Fields
Published: Friday, May 17, 2019
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending May 12.
Another cold, wet week sidelined Indiana planters. Indiana field crop producers were chomping at the bit to get their planters rolling but remained unable to get going due to water logged fields.
High levels of precipitation reduced field activity throughout much of the state. The average temperature for the week was 57 degrees Fahrenheit, 3.1 degrees below normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from .14 inches to 1.60 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was .75 inches.
There were 2.1 days suitable for fieldwork.
There was a very small window of opportunity for fieldwork during the first part of the week. Farmers took this opportunity to plant some corn on sandy ground. Other farmers used the opportunity to apply herbicides or till fields in anticipation of planting. There was very little fieldwork accomplished on heavy ground.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 0 percent; adequate, 40 percent; surplus, 60 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 0 percent; short, 0 percent; adequate, 43 percent; surplus, 57 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2018 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 6, 3, 69, 57; corn emerged, 1, 0, 28, 23; soybeans planted, 2, 1, 49, 26; winter wheat, jointing 72, 62, 81, 82; winter wheat, headed 28, 12, 18, 31.
Return to Top of Page