Rains Bring Much-Needed Moisture
Published: Friday, July 31, 2020
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending July 26.
Timely rain events and thunderstorms replenished soil moisture levels and warded off drought concerns throughout much of the state. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels increased significantly from the previous week.
The average temperature for the week was 76.8 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.6 degrees above normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from .08 inches to 4.22 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was 1.58 inches.
There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork.
Early and midweek rains brought relief from the high temperatures, as corn and soybean crop conditions improved from the previous week.
Most of the corn crop was silking last week, ahead of the five-year average, and some fields had entered the dough stage.
Soybean progress was also ahead of schedule, as soybeans across the state began to set pods.
Winter wheat harvest had concluded, and hay harvest progressed with second cuttings at or ahead of the five-year average.
Livestock were reported in good condition, and pastures benefitted from the rain and warm temperatures.
Other activities for the week included herbicide and fungicide applications, baling straw, equipment maintenance and marketing produce.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 6 percent; short, 24 percent; adequate, 67 percent; surplus, 3 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 5 percent; short, 27 percent; adequate, 66 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2019 and 5-year average) showed: corn silking, 84, 61, 35, 70; corn dough 17, 4, 6, 12; soybeans blooming, 79, 63, 32, 66; soybeans setting pods, 38, 22, 6, 36; alfalfa hay, second cutting, 88, 79, 67, 79; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 6, NA, NA, NA; other hay, second cutting, 66, 54, 49, 66; other hay, third cutting, 2, NA, NA, NA.
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