Recent rains have benefited corn and soybean crops, but it’s a little too late for some fields.

"We’ve gotten adequate rain the last week-and-a-half," Gary Horner, agriculture and natural resources extension educator for Miami County, said Thursday. "Some soybeans are benefiting from the rain, but for some the leaves are dropping off."

Horner said it’s the same story for corn, but harvest time is coming soon: "You might see the first combine in the field by mid-September. Harvest for farmers here will start by mid-September to the last half of September."

Farmers will need to watch for corn lodging, which will make harvesting difficult, he said.

Scattered rain throughout the state stopped some farmers from doing fieldwork, according to NASS’ Crop & Weather report for the week ending Aug. 31. Recorded precipitation ranged from none to 3.69 inches in Indiana. The average statewide was 1.29 inches.

Flooding and crop damage was still a problem in some areas, but overall the rain is helping finish crops, according to NASS. More rain and humidity might mean greater chances for disease.

Corn dented was 57 percent in southern Indiana, 53 percent in central Indiana and 45 percent in the northern part of the state, according to NASS. By region, corn was rated mature at 9 percent in the south, 11 percent in the center of the state and 5 percent in the north. Statewide, field corn is rated 74 percent good to excellent.

Across the state, 90 percent of the corn had doughed last week, which compares with 82 percent the week before, 89 percent last year and 90 percent for the five-year average, according to NASS. Last week 51 percent of the corn dented, compared to 41 percent the prior week, 43 percent last year 56 percent for the five-year average.

By region, soybeans are dropping leaves at 7 percent in southern Indiana, 11 percent in the central part of the state and 10 percent in the north. The soybean crop overall is rated 70 percent good to excellent.

Ninety-seven percent of soybeans were setting pods statewide, according to NASS. This compares with 94 percent two weeks ago, last year and for the five-year average. Soybeans dropping leaves were at 10 percent. This compares with 3 percent the week before and 10 percent for the five-year average.