Welcomed rain showers and cooler temperatures during the week brought some relief to both crops and livestock, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Hail caused some crop damage in a few localized areas, especially in the northern districts. Soybeans, hay crops and pastures are expected to benefit the most from the recent precipitation, and it should also help with grain weight in some of the latest planted corn.
Spider mites continued to be a problem which required additional soybean fields to be sprayed. More drought damaged corn was chopped for silage as it will provide more nutritional value for cattle than it would if it were harvested for grain. Farmers also began cleaning grain bins and preparing equipment for the upcoming harvest.
FIELD CROPS REPORT
There were 5.6 days suitable for field work during the week. Eighty-three percent of the corn acreage is in dough compared with 41 percent last year and 50 percent for the 5-year average. Thirty-nine percent of the corn is in the dent stage compared to 4 percent last year and 12 percent for the 5-year average. Corn condition improved slightly and is now rated 9 percent good to excellent compared with 39 percent last year at this time.
Ninety-seven percent of the soybean acreage is blooming compared with 87 percent last year and 90 percent for the 5-year average. Eighty percent of the soybean acreage is setting pods compared with 53 percent last year and 61 percent for the 5-year average.
Soybean condition also improved slightly and is now rated 16 percent good to excellent compared with 47 percent last year at this time.
LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT
Stress levels declined in livestock due to the cooler temperatures and precipitation. Pasture condition showed some improvement, and is now rated 3 percent good to excellent compared with 25 percent last year at this time.
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Source: Indiana NASS