Indiana
Harvest has begun in Indiana for blackberries, fall-bearing raspberries and, in the southern part of the state, table grapes, according to Purdue University’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. Early apples are showing a little damage from the early frost, but are good otherwise. The state’s peach harvest is also going well.

Late blight in tomatoes has been found elsewhere, as the disease was detected on a tomato plant in Wayne County last month, according to the latest Vegetable Crops Hotline from Purdue extension. It had been found earlier on tomatoes in Dearborn County.

Phytophthora blight has been observed in pumpkins, watermelon, cucumber and pepper, Hotline noted. The blight causes clusters of dying plants or vines, especially in low-lying areas of a field where the plant surface remains wet for long periods.

The state’s corn and soybeans continue to progress at a quick pace, according to the Indiana field office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) for the week ending Aug. 1. For corn, 96 percent had tasseled, up from 73 last year. The five-year average is 87. For soybeans, 87 percent of the crop has bloomed, up from 65 last year. The five-year average is 78.

If everything remains on track, an early harvest could be in the works, said Greg Preston, director of the NASS Indiana field office.

“We had the record planting pace this year, and development has been pushed far along by warmer temperatures, and usually we maintain that lead unless something catastrophic happens,” he said. “Farmers are probably preparing for an earlier harvest.”

Past years have shown that regardless of the start, yields can still be strong, he noted. “In 2004, we had the previous record planting pace, and we ended up with a record yield in corn at the time. Last year, we had a record slow planting pace, and we had a record yield in corn.

“We had one record on the fast side, and one on the slow side. Fast or slow, we can still come out with some good yields.”
By Michele F. Mihaljevich
Indiana Correspondent

Illinois
Illinois crop producers are learning this year the lesson of “location, location, location.” Crop progress and conditions are all over the board, depending on what part of the state one is in and the weather patterns affecting that area – from very wet in June to hit-or-miss throughout July.

Locations in northern and western Illinois received as much as 12-plus inches of rain in July, creating flash flooding. Eastern and southern areas of the state were dry, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey.

“The U.S. Drought monitor categorized Southern Illinois as ‘abnormally dry’ based on dry conditions in both June and July,” Angel said.

In northern Illinois, many roads were reopened last week and most crops survived torrential downpours and flooding that hit the area in late July, according to Ryan Keltner, president of the Stephenson County Farm Bureau.

“Beans took it worse,” he said. “There are areas where beans and corn are brown but in other areas, where the water came off quick, (crops) are still green.”

Nick Tranel, a farmer from East Dubuque and president of the Jo Daviess County Farm Bureau, believes there still is a good crop in his area despite the recent flood.

“Everything is ahead of last year by a long shot,” Tranel said of corn and bean development. “But hay harvest is slow. There will be lots of quantity, but the quality will be down.”

According to the NASS Illinois Field Office, corn ranges from 97-99 percent silked around the state. Statewide, 89 percent of soybeans are blooming and 55 are setting pods. While 92 percent of alfalfa acreage is on its second cutting, only 27 is on a third.
By Debbie Behrends
Illinois Correspondent

Ohio
Ohio fruit and vegetable farmers are enjoying nearly ideal growing seasons, according to Brent Baker of Manful Orchards in Augusta. “The weather has been cooperating and due to timely rainfalls, disease conditions have been sympathetic to our plight,” Baker said, “So far the peach crop has been the best in several years.”

As of Aug. 2, NASS was reporting 80 percent of Ohio’s peaches in fair to good condition, up 1 percent from the previous week. Reports indicate 59 percent of the peach crop has been harvested, significantly higher than the 37 at this point last year and the 36 five-year average.

Apples were rated at 77 percent in fair to good condition, which declined slightly from the previous week, with 55 percent already harvested, compared to just 46 at this time last year and a 44 five-year average.

“Apples are coming off about a week ahead of most years, starting with Lodi and Beacon,” Baker said. “Mollies Delicious will be next, along with Ginger Gold and then late varieties.”

NASS reported some crops and livestock are showing stress resulting from hot, dry conditions. And although most crops are maturing ahead of schedule, much of Ohio’s tobacco crop is still behind despite the start of some early harvests.

Oat harvest is nearly complete, compared to just 29 percent being harvested this time last year. Alfalfa hay also looks good, with 97 percent of second-cutting complete, 7 ahead of last year’s numbers. Additionally, 43 percent of third cutting alfalfa is in, 10 ahead of 2009.

Conditions of major field crops including corn and soybeans remain pretty much unchanged from the previous week, and with the majority of the crops classified in better than fair condition.
By Jane Houin
Ohio Correspondent

(Please refer to the newspaper for the remaining portion.)