News

Indiana corn crop well ahead of last year

Dry conditions last week had farmers hoping for a late July rain shower as corn and soybean plants were rolling up to conserve moisture.

Overall – 75 percent of the corn crop is rated good to excellent with 14 percent of the crop in the dough stage and 88 percent silked.  By region, corn doughing is 23% in South, 14% in Central, and 6% in North.   Soybeans are rated 71 percent good to excellent with 84 percent of the crop blooming and 51 percent setting pods.  By region, soybeans setting pods is 59% in North, 53% in South, and 45% in Central.

In other crops around the state, nearly all of the winter wheat has been harvested with 98 percent complete.  Eighty-eight percent of the second cutting of alfalfa hay is complete and 63 percent of range and pastures are rated good to excellent.

Eighty percent of the top soil and 85 percent of the subsoil are rated adequate to surplus.

Many farmers are fixing machinery, hauling grain, and cleaning bins in preparation for fall harvest.