Purdue Extension Corn Specialist Dan Quinn says for the most part Indiana’s corn crop is looking good.
“It’s kind of been an up and down year in terms of it got really dry in the month of June and then we got a bunch of rain in July and August,” said Quinn. “But the USDA predicted in the August crop report 195 bushels per-acre for the state yield average which is tied for state record.”
Quinn says that indicates Indiana’s corn crop has been looking pretty good.
“If you look at crop condition ratings, they bottomed out at about 47% good to excellent,” said Quinn. “They’re really tapered up to now where they’re pushing close to high 60 and 70% good to excellent.”
Quinn says from mid-July through August the corn crop condition has really turned around and drastically improved around the state.
“It’s been a very variable season if you talk to a lot of farmers they’ll tell you it’s been a really weird year, in terms of the rainfall, and stretched where it’s been really wet, and then goes back to being really dry” said Quinn. “It’s also a function of when farmers were planted.”
Some farmers where able to get their corn planted in late April or early May, while others had to wait until later May.
Quinn says those farmers may have been hurt a little more by the drought conditions that came in the month of June.
“It’s just all about timing with the crop,” said Quinn. “It’s a function of when it was planted, and what were the conditions when they planted, and when did the rainfall actually impact that crop during it’s life cycle throughout the season.”
As far as diseases go, Quinn says there’s nothing drastic that really stands out
“We were a little worried about diseases in July and August with both high humidity and the moisture we had,” said Quinn. “But I think the dry conditions in June have really kept a lot of those diseases at bay.”
At this point, Quinn says they’re just keeping an eye on things and monitoring the crop closely.
“Yes it’s around, it’s here and we’re watching it, but a lot of it hasn’t exploded to high levels that impact a lot of the crop.”
As we move closer to harvest season, moisture and temperatures will be critical for a good corn crop.
“We need to catch a little bit more moisture in the social just to help that crop finish itself out as it reaches maturity,” said Quinn. “And keeping those daytime and nighttime temperatures of the crop. When those temperatures are a little bit higher that crop progresses a little quicker and it works a little harder.”
Source: wlfi.com
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotokostic
Categories: Indiana, Crops, Harvesting