Rain and sodden fields kept Jeff Scholl, grain farmer in Henry County, indoors last week working on machinery in his shop – and planning what he would do if it ever stops raining.

The state saw record rainfall in June of 9 inches, on average. Scholl estimated his fields received 8-10 inches for the month. In June of a typical year, Indiana has 4 inches.

With yellow cornstalks and soybeans in need of herbicide, Scholl is hoping for a drier week soon. He plans to harvest his wheat and cut his hay as soon as he can. "With all this rain, the weeds are growing faster than usual. The ground is too moist. My crops need temperatures to reach the mid-80s – not upper 70s – and more sunshine," he said.

But he is rejoicing that he cut his first hay the first week of June, before weeks of rain. He has 18 acres of hay, and what he doesn’t use for his horses and brood cows, he sells. "When I cut that hay, it sprinkled the last three to four acres. I’m glad I pushed through," Scholl added.

His row crops are not faring as well, with multiple areas that have ponded; however, Scholl found some irony in the fact his crops in sandy, gravelly soil are producing well. "I have more crop insurance on that plot. In a normal year it dries out faster and doesn’t produce as many bushels. But those crops down there look stupendous. The rain doesn’t stand in that soil."

Last week’s rainfall and cool temperatures were not all that different from the week ending June 28, according to NASS. Like Scholl, many farmers in Indiana had yellowed cornstalks and soaked and weedy fields. With only 1.5 days suitable for fieldwork, progress on crops slowed. Storms with high winds and hail further knocked over poorly nourished corn, suffering for lack of nitrogen application.

Only 18 percent of winter wheat was harvested, compared with 26 percent for the same week last year and 39 percent for the five-year average. Hay was behind, as well, with many farmers unable to do a first cutting at all.

One percent of corn was silking, compared to 7 percent for the five-year average, while 2 percent of soybeans were blooming, compared to 9 percent for the five-year average.