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Heavy rain, frost threaten newly emerged Indiana crops

A west central Indiana farmer says he finished the 2026 planting season in just ten days.

But, Kevin Cox says recent cold and wet weather has had an impact on germination. 

“We had six inches of rain in the last two weeks and two or three frosts,” he says. “The first four days, we had a perfect stand, the few days in the middle have been extremely slow, and the last few days haven’t done anything.”

According to the latest USDA crop progress and conditions report, Indiana corn is 51 percent planted and 28 percent emerged. Soybeans are 51 percent planted and 28 percent emerged. Winter wheat is 34 percent headed and rated 72 percent good to excellent.

He tells Brownfield he’s concerned he may have to replant. 

“I’ve still got some spots that I’m a little anxious about,” he says. “Ponding has been a huge deal, because we’ve had so much water. We had about two and a half inches of rain in an hour one night so there’s been a lot of runoff, a lot of ditches cut, and a lot of ponding.”

Topsoil moisture is 87 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil moisture is 82 percent adequate to surplus.  

Cox raises corn and soybeans in Brazil, Indiana.

AUDIO: Kevin Cox