Hot and dry weather conditions continued to plague most of Indiana last week until scattered rain showers fell over the weekend. Some areas of the state received enough rainfall to temporarily relieve drought stress while other areas received no precipitation. Dry pasture conditions are rapidly declining forcing some farmers to already feed hay to their livestock.
The condition of this year’s corn crop declined again, as just 37 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition compared to 55 percent last year. Two percent of the crop has silked – ahead of both last year and the five-year average.
Ninety-seven percent of intended soybean acreage has emerged well ahead of last year and the five-year average. Four percent of the crop is blooming but the condition of the crop also fell and now just 32 percent is rated good to excellent compared with 56 percent a year ago.
Winter wheat harvest continues to advance as 45 percent has been cut, well ahead of the 3 percent last year. Fifty-six percent of the crop is rated good to excellent. Due to the continued above normal temperatures – much of the state’s livestock was under stress last week.
Lack of rainfall has put added pressure on the soil moisture. Eighty-five percent of the topsoil moisture is listed very short to short and 79 percent of the subsoil moisture is very short to short.
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