Scattered rain showers and cooler weather kept many fields too saturated for fieldwork, according to Greg Matli, Indiana State Statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rain showers came early in the week, keeping the soils soaked from the previous week’s storms. Parts of Northern Indiana experienced frosts as well, with temperatures dipping into the high 20’s causing some frost damage. The statewide average temperature was 58.9 degrees, below the average. Statewide precipitation was 1.07 inches, above average by 0.15 inches. There were 1.8 days available for fieldwork for the week ending May 7, up 1.1 days from the previous week.
Nationally 71% of the corn crop has been planted with 56% planted in Indiana. Indiana corn is 47% emerged, behind the 5 year average. Regionally, corn was 50% planted in the North, 60% in Central, and 60% in the South. Corn was 20% emerged in the North, 31% in Central, and 45% in the South.
Nationally 32% of the soybeans are in with 23% of Hoosier soybeans planted. Four percent of Indiana soybeans have emerged, well behind the 11% average. Soybeans were 20% planted in the North, 25% in Central, and 25% in the South. Winter wheat was 75% jointed in the North, 88% in Central, and 95% in the South.
Winter wheat was 23% headed in the North, 62% in Central, and 89% in the South.
The saturated fields along with more rain continued to slow planting progress for farmers. As fields began to dry, soils have compacted leaving some concerned about emergence for corn and soybeans and if they will need to be replanted. Pythium blight and heavy concentrations of black cutworms were spotted in some fields. Winter wheat has continued to progress at normal pace and seems to have benefited from the rain.
Hay fields look lush and healthy from the abundant moisture and warmer temperatures. Weed pressure has begun to increase in pastures. Once the rain stopped, farmers sprayed fields, applied fertilizer, hauled grain, mowed roadsides and visited FSA offices.
Source: NASS