WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Indiana’s corn and soybean harvests are behind schedule as farmers race the weather to bring in their crops, according to an agricultural statistician with the Indiana field office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

As of Sept. 27, 2 percent of the state’s corn crop had been harvested, down from 7 the same time last year, and down from the five-year average of 15 percent, Kiflam Hurlbut said. For soybeans, 3 percent of the crop is out, compared to 13 last year and the five-year average of 18 percent.

“Everything was planted late, so that affects harvest,” he said. “One of the concerns back in June, when farmers were considering replanting, was could they get the crop harvested or mature before the first frost? Now it’s just a race to get done.”

Based on condition ratings, if farmers can make it through the harvest with no problems, it should be a relatively good year, Hurlbut said.

Sixty-three percent of the corn crop is rated good to excellent. Last year, it was 52 percent. For soybeans, 61 percent of the crop is listed good to excellent, compared to 48 last year.

For corn, 84 percent is in the dent stage, down from 93 percent last year. The five-year average is 98 percent. For soybeans, 63 percent of the crop is shedding leaves, down from last year’s 77 percent. The five-year average is 81 percent.

By Michele F. Mihaljevich
Indiana Correspondent

Illinois
Warm temperatures gave a boost to Illinois crop maturity in late September, according to the Sept. 28 NASS Illinois Weather & Crops Report. A “good portion” of the state’s corn crop – primarily in southern fields – is near maturity, while some soybean producers have begun harvesting early-planted fields.

Bob Frazee, University of Illinois extension natural resources management educator, agreed most of the state experienced excellent drying conditions with low humidity, gentle breezes and warm temperatures during latter September. He said on Oct. 1, however, the weather in most of the state hasn’t been as cooperative since the report was issued.

“As we look at the past few days and at what is projected for the next several days, we see abnormally cool and wet conditions. Consequently, crop maturity is not going to be sped along. The ripening process will be slowed,” he said.

Most of the state’s corn crop is already at least two weeks behind the five-year average, Frazee reported. He has concerns about the consequences of an early frost on crops (overnight temperatures in central and northern Illinois were recorded in the mid-30s last week), especially regarding corn and late-planted soybeans.
“A frost right now would have a significant impact on corn that had not reached the black-layer stage,” he cautioned. “We need another two weeks of maturity on these crops.”

The average first frost date for northern Illinois is Oct. 7, Frazee said, while frost typically occurs on or around Oct. 15 in central Illinois. In southern Illinois, the first frost can occur Oct. 22 or later.
Early frost or not, “we’re looking at harvesting a lot of high-moisture corn compared to a normal season,” Frazee predicted.

By Tim Alexander
Illinois Correspondent

Ohio
It’s looking good for yields on Ohio corn and soybeans in 2009. Corn predictions remain higher than the national average, at 165 bushels per acre. In 2009, 3.4 million acres of field corn were planted compared to 3.3 million in 2008, according to the NASS.
Mild temperatures and adequate soil moisture supplies contrasted with exceptionally dry conditions last year, according to the Dwayne Siekman of the Ohio Corn Growers Assoc.

As of Sept. 27, 87 percent of corn was dented, compared to all of it last year and 99 percent for the five-year average, according to the UDSA reports. Twenty-four percent of corn was mature, compared to 57 last year, and 62 for the five-year average.

One percent of the corn was harvested, 6 percent behind last year. Acreage of corn silage harvested was at 69 percent, compared to 84 percent last year.

Harold Watters with Ohio State University extension in Champagne County, said late season soil-borne diseases had taken the top off some good soybean yields although western Ohio was still looking at an excellent crop. Harvest is several days late because of weather.

According to the NASS, 29 percent of soybeans were mature, 12 percent behind last year and 16 percent behind the five-year average. Six percent of soybeans were harvested compared to 13 percent last year, and 14 percent for the five-year average.

By Celeste Baumgartner
Ohio Correspondent

Iowa
While recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have benefited Iowa cattle producers by providing much-needed moisture for cool-season grass, they have significantly slowed harvest for corn and soybean growers, falling behind five-year averages.

“Harvest has officially started, but it has been slow as crop development remains behind and the rain last week kept farmers out of the field,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.
According to the NASS Iowa Crops and Weather Report, crop conditions are rated at 75 percent good or excellent, with moisture content for corn at 32 percent, 4 percent higher than the five-year average, and 2 percent of the corn crop harvested before late September’s rainfall.

The Sept. 28 report said while 76 percent of Iowa’s soybean crop has dropped its leaves, progress is 8 percent behind the five-year average. But the report added that 6 percent of the state’s soybean crop was harvested before the recent rainfall.

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said Iowa’s recent temperatures were above normal each day, averaging 3 degrees above for the week of Sept. 20. “Meanwhile, the dry weather pattern of the past several weeks came to an end over most of the state,” he said.
The report said temperatures ranged from morning lows of 41 degrees at Onawa on Sept. 22, up to Sept. 27 afternoon highs of 83 degrees at Des Moines and Osceola.

“The lack of frost to date has allowed corn and soybeans to continue to development and most will soon be mature enough to be safe from freezing temperatures,” Northey added.

By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent

Published on Oct. 7, 2009