Fields Drying Up from Little Rain
Published: Friday, September 13, 2024
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Sept. 8.
Dry conditions continued last week as Indiana farmers prepared for the upcoming harvest. Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 37% rated adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 65 degrees F, 4.9 degrees below normal.
The statewide average precipitation was .10 inches, .53 inches below normal.
There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork.
Though dry conditions caused streams to dry and ponds to be down, the condition of the corn and soybean crops remained stable. However, some farmers were concerned that a continued lack of rainfall may adversely impact late-planted crops.
Corn and soybean progress continued ahead of their respective five-year average paces.
Silage harvest was underway as seed corn harvest commenced.
Pastures, browning from lack of rain, had their regrowth stalled, and livestock were supplemented with added hay feedings.
Other activities included manure applications, mowing roadsides, hauling grain to market and preparing harvest equipment.
Topsoil moisture was rated very short, 22%; short, 41%; adequate, 36%; surplus, 1%.
Subsoil moisture was rated very short, 19%; short, 41%; adequate, 39%; surplus, 1%.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn dough, 96, 89, 95, 94; corn dented, 79, 61, 65, 65; corn mature, 25, 12, 10, 15; corn harvested for grain, 1, 0, 0, 0; corn harvested for silage, 35, 19, 28, 31; soybeans setting pods, 97, 94, 95, 95; soybeans harvested, 1, 0, 0, 0; winter wheat planted, 2, 0, 1, 1; alfalfa hay, third cutting, 93, 86, 92, 87; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 34, 23, 35, 33; other hay, third cutting, 64, 56, 67, 62; other hay, fourth cutting, 12, 6, 15, 6.
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