Warm Weather Returns to Indiana
Published: Friday, May 7, 2021
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending May 2.
Warmer temperatures and above average rainfall spurred crop progress. Soil moisture levels increased from the previous week, with 89 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 60.1 degrees Fahrenheit, 4.2 degrees above normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from .16 to 2.62 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was 1.33 inches.
There were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork.
Warm temperatures returned last week and helped push corn and soybean planting progress further ahead of the five-year average. Heavy rains late in the week halted field activity but helped replenish soil moisture levels.
Winter wheat conditions improved from the previous week, and winter wheat jointing was right in line with the five-year average.
Livestock were reported in good condition, and pastures benefitted from the warmer weather and increased moisture.
Other activities for the week included fertilizer and herbicide applications, terminating cover crops, and equipment maintenance.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 1 percent; short, 10 percent; adequate, 71 percent; surplus, 18 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 4 percent; short, 17 percent; adequate, 70 percent; surplus, 9 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn planted, 32, 14, 31, 27; corn emerged, 8, 2, 4, 5; soybeans planted, 24, 9, 20, 11; soybeans emerged, 4, 1, 2, 1; winter wheat jointing, 67, 53, 62, 67; winter wheat heading, 5, 0, 1, 13.
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