Silage Harvest Begins in Indiana
Published: Friday, September 10, 2021
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 5.
With harvest on the horizon, early- and late-week rains helped replenish soil moisture levels and improve crop conditions. Soil moisture levels increased from the previous week, with 64 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 70.4 degrees F, .3 degrees below normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from none to 4.06 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was 1.29 inches.
There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork for the week.
Corn and soybean conditions improved slightly from the previous week, thanks in part to the above average rainfall throughout much of the state.
Corn dented progressed well ahead of the five-year average, while corn mature was slightly behind schedule at 15 percent.
Soybeans progressed ahead of the five-year average with 18 percent dropping leaves.
Silage harvest was underway, running slightly behind the previous year at 30 percent complete.
The mid-week break in the rain allowed for hay harvest in some areas, as the third and fourth cuttings of alfalfa progressed ahead of the five-year averages.
Armyworms were reported as a concern in hay and pasture fields. Livestock were reported in good condition.
Other activities for the week included applying insecticides, processing livestock and preparing equipment for harvest.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 8 percent; short, 28 percent; adequate, 61 percent; surplus, 3 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 10 percent; short, 28 percent; adequate, 60 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn dough, 96, 93, 97, 93; corn dented, 72, 57, 66, 65; corn mature, 15, 8, 18, 18; corn harvested for silage, 30, 15, 35, N/A; soybeans setting pods, 97, 94, 99, 95; soybeans dropping leaves, 18, 9, 17, 16; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 92, 85, 88, 84; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 42, 27, 24, 19; other hay, third cutting, 65, 59, 67, 63.
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