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| Between the Rows - June 9, 2010 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa) |
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Indiana
Good news is always welcome, so many farmers can be pleased that overall planting is ahead of not only this time last year but also the five-year average, said the Indiana NASS Field Office. Above average temperatures and plenty of sunshine allowed soils to dry enough for fieldwork to resume across much of the state.
Though pop-up storms occur during warm and humid days, statewide, 94 percent of the corn acreage has been planted compared with 75 percent last year and 89 percent for the five-year average. Soybean planting made good progress with 70 percent of the soybean acreage now planted compared with 46 percent last year. Corn planting is nearing completion in many northern and central areas of the state. However, there will be some replanting of drowned out spots and areas with poor emergence, according to NASS.
West central Indiana is “benefitting from warmer temps,” said Jim Luzar, Purdue Extension Educator in Vigo County. “Well-drained soils are developing crops fast relative to more poorly drained soils. There is also little incidence of cutworm infestation reported.”
Luzar also noted rain delays in May hampered efforts to finish soybean planting. “Soybean planting for us extended past July 4 in 2009 so we are in better shape overall, but farmers with beans to plant would like to wrap up planting season. Emergence of soybeans has been good.”
Weather conditions have improved the winter wheat heading compared to 2009. Ninety-three percent is headed compared to 88 percent last year. “Wheat acreage for the area looks good, but head scab could be a major concern,” said Luzar.
Crop conditions for corn, pasture and winter wheat all rate in the “good” category. There’s not much time to sit and watch crops grow as farmers dodge storms to spray weeds, complete side dressing of nitrogen, cut and bale hay, mow roadsides and ditches, move grain to market and take extra time with livestock.
By Susan Hayhurst
Indiana Correspondent
Michigan
Above average temperatures put most farm activities ahead of schedule in Michigan during the last week, but heavy rains across much of the southern region slowed progress there.
According to the Michigan NASS Field Office for the week ending May 30, average temperatures ranged from 10 degrees above normal in the southwest Lower Peninsula to 13 degrees above normal in the northeast Lower Peninsula, which aided crop development across the state.
Nearly all of the state’s corn was planted as of May 30, with farmers reporting 93 percent of the crop in the ground and 80 percent emerged. Soybean planting continued with 73 percent of the crop planted, a 14-percent increase over this time last year. Wheat quickly headed out and first cutting alfalfa hay continued as conditions permitted. Farmers credited the warm weather with quicker germination of crops this year. Much of the state received some precipitation last week, with heavy rains chasing farmers out of the fields in southern Michigan.
Mike Staton, Michigan State University (MSU) interim County Extension Director for Allegan County, said parts of Allegan County received up to five inches of rain. “These have stalled all field work this week,” Staton said. “Soil erosion and ponding are evident as a result of the heavy rains this week.”
However, he added, that “overall, planting progressed rapidly this spring before the rain with only the marginal or poorly drained areas remaining to be planted. Wheat looks good for the most part and the plants are flowering and beginning the grain fill period. Soybeans have emerged well. Corn is somewhat variable with the most advanced fields being in the V6 stage. Most dairy producers harvested their first cutting of alfalfa in good shape.”
In his MSU Extension Crop Advisory Team Alert, Isabella County Extension Director Paul Gross reported about two inches of rain was received last week. and that standing water was in some fields. However, he wrote, “the adequate to surplus rains with warm temperatures makes for near ideal growing conditions.”
By Shelly Strautz-Springborn
Michigan Correspondent
Ohio
Spring rains are always appreciated by Ohio farmers. But Jerry Kramer of Champaign County said “enough already.”
“I’ve had no progress on soybeans this past week because it’s too damp,” Kramer said. “My corn is just about complete thanks to the warm-up, but I need more drying conditions to finish the soybeans.”
Kramer, like other Ohio growers is at 94 percent planted for corn thanks to the average temperature of 73 degrees F. (9.5 degrees above normal for May.)
While central and northeast Ohio saw slightly below-normal precipitation for the week, Kramer and others in west central Ohio witnessed steady damp conditions. “The rains weren’t torrential, but scattered enough to keep us out of the fields,” Kramer said.
On the positive side, warm weather provided a boost to most crops. Farmers resumed tilling and planting of corn and soybeans. Eighty-one percent of corn has emerged, compared to 60 percent last year. But planting for soybeans in the state remains at 64 percent, down 14 percent from last year.
Ninety-two percent of winter wheat was headed and 94 percent of oats were emerged. Fifty-three percent of the first cutting of alfalfa hay was complete, 61 percent of cucumbers were planted, 81 percent of potatoes are in the ground and 32 percent of strawberries were harvested. Tomato planting is at 47 percent.
The northwest, northeast and north central parts of Ohio have received the most rain since Jan. 1, averaging 10.4 inches in these areas.
By Doug Graves
Ohio Correspondent
Iowa
A warm week throughout most of Iowa allowed farmers the chance to catch up on fieldwork – and even complete planting – prior to the Memorial Day weekend, with many reporting their corn and soybean fields in good condition.
According to the Iowa Crop & Weather Report, released on June 1, most producers needed to replant due to seedling rot, crusted soil and hail damage.
The report said almost all of the corn has been planted, emerging 94 percent.
To date, soybean planting is 91 percent completed, emerging 62 percent.
“It is has been a while since we have seen that rate of (soybean) emergence occur in this area,” said Paul Kassel, Iowa State University Extension crops field specialist.
Kassel added that crop rolling or the use of land rollers has become more commonplace, reducing the chance of sickle or combine damage in the fall.
By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent |
| 6/9/2010 |
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