Indiana
Farmers continued to struggle with planting corn due to rain and wet fields last week; however, more are finishing as conditions dry out. Eighty-two percent of the intended corn acreage has been planted in Indiana, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Crop & Weather report for the week ending June 5. By area, 82 percent of the corn in the north, 85 percent in central Indiana and 77 percent of the south had been planted.

“We’re probably 90 percent of the level that’s going to be planted,” Curt Campbell, Wabash County extension educator, said of his county. “We’ve done a lot in the past few days. Beans are probably 70 to 80 percent planted (in Wabash County).”

Huntington County estimates were a little below that because of wetter soil. “Some corn has shifted to soybeans, but I’d say probably 70 percent or more corn is planted that will be planted,” said extension agent Ed Farris. “Probably 60 percent of beans – it depends.

“On May 30, we were still 5 percent (planted) on soybeans and 10 percent on corn planted. Farmers have made a lot of progress because we had a good week.”

Wabash County farmer Dan Dale has finished planting 450 acres of corn, but 15 will have to switch to soybeans. “I started planting April 14,” he said. “Due to rain ... this is the first year I’ve planted corn in June.”

Urbana farmer Herb Ringle usually plants 600 acres of corn and 600 of soybeans. “I started planting about May 10,” he said. “But I usually start around April 20 or earlier. I finished Tuesday night (June 7) around 8:30 or 9 p.m. Just getting at it was the problem. It’s a good feeling.”

Ringle noticed a little cutworm damage in his field. He will be watching for more. Christian Krupke and John Obermeyer of Purdue University’s Department of Entomology have warned cutworm damage could be worse this year thanks to the diminished effect of insecticides and/or Bt-traited corn on claybacked cutworm, which overwinters as partially-grown larvae.

Campbell said cutworms are three times worse than normal. Joe Kelsay, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, said cutworms had largely come and gone in much of the state.

Kelsay saw fungus and mold as more of a threat now to corn and soybeans. Farris agreed, mentioning crazy top for corn and pythium and phytophthora for soybeans as concerns in wet conditions. Ringle may spray for weeds.
Some farmers Kelsay has talked with still have the tough decision whether to plant later-maturing corn or soybeans. He’s also heard mainstream media question the effect of the late planting on food and gas prices.

 “It’s too early to tell what conditions will be like the rest of the year,” he said. “Most farmers are hoping for a balanced crop. Whatever the food cost, it is a bargain (compared to other countries).”

By Laurie Kiefaber
Indiana Correspondent

Illinois
Warmer temperatures and more abundant sunshine allowed crop planting throughout most of Illinois to rebound to near-average levels, following a long spring of rainy discontent for many of the state’s row crop producers.
With an average temperature of 76.1 degrees – 8.1 above normal – and precipitation below normal during the week preceding June 6, farmers enjoyed an average of four days suitable for fieldwork, according to NASS’ Illinois Crop & Weather report. Though some standing water was still hampering farmers in pockets around the state, corn planted increased to 98 percent with 90 percent emerged, and soybeans to 78 percent planted with 53 percent emerged.

The five-year average for corn planted is 96 percent, with an average of 89 percent emerged. Soybeans are usually 76 percent planted and 56 percent emerged by June 6, according to the five-year average.

In the heart of Illinois, Peoria County Farm Bureau Manager Patrick Kirchhofer said most of the area’s producers are content with their planting progress. “The corn is (completely) planted in the Peoria area and most of the soybeans have been planted. I would estimate that 95 percent of (the county’s) soybeans are planted,” said Kirchhofer.

“There are a few farmers still trying to get the wettest of their fields planted to soybeans and a few acres have been replanted. In Peoria County, there has not been much flooding.”

The wheat yield for Illinois’ 2011 crop is estimated to average 62 bushels per acre based on June 1 surveys, according to NASS’ June 10 Illinois Farm Report. Total Illinois production was pegged at 45.3 million bushels, more than 2.5 times the 2010 production of 16.5 million bushels.

By Tim Alexander
Illinois Correspondent

Ohio
Warmer temperatures and a break in rain finally gave Ohio farmers the break they needed to start catching up on their corn and soybean planting. According to NASS, the below-normal precipitation for the week ending June 5 allowed farmers to get 39 percent of corn in last week alone, along with 19 percent of their soybeans, bringing totals to 58 percent of the total corn crop in the ground along with 28 percent of the total soybean crop.

The question remains if this break is too little, too late. According to numbers released by The Ohio State University extension last week, Ohio farmers stand to lose close to $1 billion in income from late planting of corn and soybeans this spring, with those losses expected to grow. Those are just estimates for corn and soybeans and do not include other parts of Ohio’s agricultural industry.
“It’s a very incomplete picture,” said Barry Ward, production business management leader with extension. “There are certainly other losses being experienced in the agricultural sector, including substantial losses in fruit and vegetable production, and in the greenhouse and bedding plant industry.
“Quantity and quality losses in winter wheat might be expected due to disease. And, pasture and hay are also suffering losses in both quantity and quality. Poorer feed means less feed efficiency, and that will translate into losses in livestock, as well.”

Ohio farmers have only seen 14.2 suitable days for fieldwork since April 1, compared to 33.2 days at this point last year. “The weather from now until harvest will determine the impact on yield and on income,” Ward said.
Other factors that could change the outlook include how many farmers decide to take prevented planting crop insurance and how many corn growers switch to soybeans. But this initial estimate “is a very conservative number,” he said. “This planting delay will definitely have an impact.”

Corn and soybeans are not the only crops falling behind schedule. Oat planting is also running behind, with only 69 percent of the crop planted compared to 100 percent at this point last year.

Hay crops are also seeing delays from the wet weather, with alfalfa first cutting 20 percent behind 2010 numbers and other first-cutting hay 14 percent behind last year’s numbers and the five-year average.

Vegetable crops are also experiencing planting delays, with cucumbers running 32 percent behind, potatoes 48 percent behind and processing tomatoes 19 percent behind last year’s numbers.

By Jane Houin
Ohio Correspondent