rain

Planting is progressing quickly in drier conditions. Acres planted to corn in the last couple of weeks have increased from 1% a few weeks ago to more than 60 - 70% in some areas. Northern Indiana has more than a week of field activity, followed by central Indiana. Larger planter units with bulk system seed units and 24 rows or more are covering the acreage at a record pace. Growers in parts of southern Indiana started a day or two ago and are rained out again. Most rain in recent weeks has occurred along the I70 and south.

It is a wet and cool spring, quite a contrast from last year’s dry and warm weather. Some field work such as fertilizer spreading, ammonia application, weed control, and tillage did happen early. Frequent and heavy rains with some snow are delaying planting and field work in recent weeks. Our weather conditions are about the norm for this time of year. There is no call for alarm yet.  Planting early is great when it happens, especially if soils are in good condition. Corn root systems develop much better in warm and moist soils compared to cool, wet and compacted soils.

Corn harvest is almost complete in mid-south, well on the way in southern Indiana-Kentucky and beginning in the north. Yields are as expected. Irrigated fields in SW Missouri and Arkansas are producing 180-220 bushels per acre. Farms in southern Indiana and Kentucky are in the 30-80 bushel per acre range. There is an occasional 120-150 bushel yield where a timely rain occurred in July. Yields will vary from 0-30 on high ground and perhaps 100 or more in lower fertile ground. North and east central Indiana was also affected by extreme drought this summer.

Significant rainfall has occurred in the last two weeks but not enough to relieve drought conditions throughout the region.  It is the first time rainfall has been over an inch in one event since early winter.  Some storms have been severe with heavy rain in localized spots.  Southwestern and east central Indiana missed these rains and remains in extreme drought.  Many fields of corn are near or in the dent stage with little chance for yield improvement.

Hot and dry weather has prevailed over the region and intensified drought conditions. Fifty-five Indiana counties are declared natural disaster areas, 36 counties are primary disaster areas and another 19 adjacent counties are designated eligible for natural disaster assistance. This is indication to the severity of drought conditions in Indiana and adjacent states in the south such as Kentucky and Arkansas. About 71% of Indiana’s corn crop is rated as poor to very poor. Many fields are barren or vary in yield potential from 30 to 80 bushels per acre.

Field work started early this year due to a mild winter and early spring. Fertilizers were applied, tillage operations completed and some herbicide burn down programs finished and it is only March. Long term forecast called for above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall. A few decided to begin planting corn at a slow and steady pace in mid to late March. This is new and we did not know what to expect. After so many good days of planting a few decided to stop and wait for April dates. It did not make sense to put all corn acres in so early.

Wet fields, rain, wind and hail is the scenario this spring in Indiana and Kentucky. The rivers and streams are full to over flowing and water in the river bottoms is at the highest level since the 1930’s. All this makes it difficult to farm and tests one’s mettle. A dry field anywhere gets attention, if it’s large or just a piece. Many are farming around ponds and extremely wet places in fields just to get a crop in.

One could say that the environment played a large role in the performance of crops in Ohio this year.Of course, we say that every year. 2010 brought challenges in terms of the amount and distribution of rainfall across the region. Temperatures also played a role, especially later in the season. In general, early (May and June) rainfall was plentiful to excessive in most areas, leading to saturated soil conditions that reduced emergence in some fields. Excessively wet soils limited early season root growth and resulted in shallow root systems. Nitrogen loss was evident in many fields.

This time last year we were looking at about 20% of the crop harvested, at best; top it off with most grain moistures still above 20%. This year we have less than 5% of the crop left to harvest and most combines are cleaned up and back in the shed. Most of the region experienced beautiful fall conditions up to this point with the exception of less then average precipitation. With most of the area drier than normal, quality winter wheat stands are hard to find. Lots of fall tillage and fertilizer applications are going at a good pace trying to beat the frost.

Despite up to 12 inches of rain falling in parts of MN and WI during the last week of September, harvest progressed very well this fall in the North. Following these heavy rains and hail; most areas had nearly three weeks of dry and warm conditions allowing many farmers to complete soybean harvest and go straight to corn without much delay. A growing season with above average temperatures and adequate rainfall set the stage for excellent yields, high test weights, and dry corn.