Corn, Soybeans Rapidly Maturing
Published: Friday, September 24, 2021
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 19.
High temperatures and relatively dry weather aided corn and soybean maturation last week.
Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels both decreased from the previous week, with 49 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 73.9 degrees F, 8.1 degrees above normal.
The amount of rainfall varied from none to 2.51 inches over the week. The statewide average precipitation was .53 inches, 73 percent of normal.
There were 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
The hot and dry weather pushed corn and soybeans into maturity, with both crops progressing ahead of their five-year averages.
Corn and soybean harvests were picking up, though the unusually dry conditions raised fire concerns in some areas. Corn silage harvest pushed closer to completion.
The warm, dry weather stressed pastures and hay fields and slowed regrowth. Livestock were reported in good condition with fall calving underway.
Other activities for the week included planting cover crops, marketing hay and preparing equipment for harvest.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 15 percent; short, 36 percent; adequate, 47 percent; surplus, 2 percent.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 14 percent; short, 34 percent; adequate, 51 percent; surplus, 1 percent.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2020 and 5-year average) showed: corn dented, 94, 88, 90, 87; corn mature, 55, 34, 48, 48; corn harvested for grain, 9, 2, 4, 7; corn harvested for silage, 78, 59, 79, N/A; soybeans dropping leaves, 64, 39, 60, 49; soybeans harvested, 8, 1, 4, 4; winter wheat planted, 6, 4, 5, 4; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 74, 58, 55, 49; other hay, third cutting, 86, 79, 83, 81; other hay, fourth cutting, 41, 24, N/A, N/A.
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