News

Soybean conditions improve; Indiana corn harvest begins

With nearly 20 percent of Indiana’s corn crop mature, corn harvest is underway and widely varying yields have been reported.  Most of the corn harvest has taken place is in the west-central and southern crop reporting districts.   The corn crop continues to advance as 96 percent is reported in the dough stage, 73 percent in dent, 17 percent mature, and 2 percent harvested.  All numbers are drastically ahead of this time a year ago.  The majority of the crop (70 percent) is still in poor to very poor condition and just 10 percent is rated good to excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of the state’s soybean crop is setting pods and 11 percent has begun to shed leaves.  The condition of the soybean crop continues to improve with recent rainfalls.  23 percent is now rated good to excellent with 43 percent still poor to very poor.  There have been some cases of Bean Leaf Beetles and Sudden Death Syndrome reported this week. 

The recent precipitation has helped relieve some pressure on soil moisture – but it continues to be a concern.   Seventy-four percent of the Topsoil is listed as short to very short and 88 percent of the Subsoil moisture is rated short to very short.

Livestock conditions have improved in recent weeks and are in mostly good condition.  The animals seem to be benefiting from improving pastures and the cooler temperatures.