By Andi Anderson
Last week in Indiana, some farmers managed to wrap up planting, while others faced delays due to continuous rain which left fields waterlogged, as reported by Nathanial Warenski, State Statistician at USDA NASS’s Indiana Field Office. This resulted in stable yet high topsoil moisture levels, with 94 percent rated adequate or surplus.
The week's average temperature hovered at 64.3 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly below the usual for this time of year by 2.1 degrees. Rainfall averaged 1.57 inches across the state, which is 0.47 inches above normal, limiting fieldwork to just 4.4 days.
Despite these challenges, the progress of planting corn and soybeans has been ahead of their five-year averages. Some areas still struggle, especially with fields that are prone to waterlogging and those with clay soils.
The state’s winter wheat is almost fully headed, and the overall condition remains steady. There are growing concerns about potential disease due to the wet conditions.
Pasture conditions are thriving, with 77 percent of pastures rated as good to excellent, supporting healthy livestock conditions.
Hay cutting is slightly ahead compared to previous years, and other farm activities like spraying herbicides, applying fertilizers, mowing roadsides, and harvesting asparagus continued as planned.
Crop progress data indicates significant advancement over the past week with most crops either meeting or surpassing average levels from previous years, showcasing the resilience and hard work of Indiana’s farming community despite weather-related setbacks.
Photo Credit -usda
Categories: Indiana, Crops, Livestock, Weather