Another Dry Week Aids Harvest
Published: Friday, October 25, 2024
The following is from the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service for the week ending Oct. 20.
Another dry week allowed Indiana farmers to make significant harvest progress. Topsoil moisture levels decreased from the previous week, with 31% rated adequate or surplus.
The average temperature for the week was 50 degrees F, 3.1 degrees below normal.
The statewide average precipitation was .13 inches, .64 inches below normal.
There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork.
Cool, dry weather aided operators across the state as they continued harvest activities. However, pastures were not recovering well and planted cover crops and winter wheat were struggling to germinate due to the persistent dry conditions.
Soybean and corn harvest continued significantly ahead of their five-year average paces, while winter wheat planting remained on schedule.
Fall calving was underway, with some livestock requiring alternate watering sources.
Fourth cuttings of alfalfa hay were nearing completion.
Other activities included hauling grain, planting cover crops and harvest equipment maintenance.
The crop moisture content (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: field corn harvested for grain, 17, 18, 21, 19; soybeans harvested, 11, 11, 13, 12.
The crop progress schedule (last week, previous week, 2023 and five-year average) showed: corn harvested for grain, 61, 44, 39, 45; soybeans harvested, 75, 57, 61, 62; winter wheat planted, 59, 40, 52, 60; winter wheat emerged, 26, 12, 19, 25; alfalfa hay, fourth cutting, 85, 80, 82, 84; other hay, fourth cutting, 51, 45, 65, 61.
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