News

Very little planting progress this week

Warm temperatures and less precipitation allowed for the first corn to be planted in the state.  According to the Indiana Crop and Weather report, just 1 percent of the crop has been planted.

For Hancock County farmer Jonathan Sparks, even less corn has been planted in his area.  “There hasn’t been any progress to this point – or very little,” he says.  “There were some people starting to run over the weekend putting on some pre-plant anhydrous on – but that’s been the only activity in our area.”

More than an inch of rain fell over the weekend and that, combined with the cool temperatures in the forecast this week will set farmers back again.  “It’s going to take quite a few days for it to dry out,” he says.  “I’d say it’s set us back at least 10 days from what people normally would be doing in this area as far as starting to plant.”

In other crops around the state, 15 percent of the winter wheat crop is jointing and 1 percent is headed.  Fifty-eight percent of the crop is rated good to excellent.