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Northern Midwest crops gladly drinking up rains
 
By SUSAN HAYHURST
Indiana Correspondent
 
 TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — From soybean stages ahead of the five-year average to some fruit production excelling, variable weather continues to play a significant role in this year’s crop-growing season in the Midwest.
 
The June 30 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report estimated a record high 89.5 million acres of soybeans were planted in the United States this season, up 7 percent from 2016.

By July 16, 52 percent of the nation’s soybeans were at or beyond the blooming stage, slightly ahead of the five-year average.

According to NASS, blooming advanced at a rapid pace, with gains of at least 15 percentage points during the week in 13 of the 18 major estimating states. Nationally, 16 percent of this year’s crop was setting pods, 3 percentage points ahead of the five-year average and advances of 10 percent or greater occurred in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.

Indiana and Illinois received rain early in the week, with Illinois welcoming the moisture while Indiana’s fieldwork was impeded. Storms in central Indiana brought severe winds that knocked down trees, causing widespread power outages and property damage. Illinois’ topsoil moisture supply registered 63 percent adequate.

Rainfall proved beneficial to Michigan’s overall crop development. “While row crops initially were two to three weeks ahead of schedule in the spring, we received wet weather that changed the crop picture. Our sand soils are now looking fantastic,” said Martin Hall, Ceres Solutions Cooperative, Inc. Michigan region manager.

“Usually the sand crops are burning up and the clay crops are good, but this year it’s the reverse. Western state crops are good to excellent and southern Michigan to northern Indiana are some of the best crops we’ve ever had. We got those in early and most of those have irrigation.”

While traveling to Colorado last week, Hall felt he didn’t see any better crops than in his managerial area.

Also producing well are several of Michigan’s specialty crops. “Our vegetable crops are doing great, including pumpkins and gourds,” he said. “We had an excellent asparagus season and the blueberry crop was not damaged in our early frost, so they look to be in great shape.”

Hall noted the April freeze took a toll on other fruit. Eighty percent of the cherry crop and 50-60 percent of the apples were lost, while 80-100 percent of the peaches took a hit. Blueberry producers have been balancing irrigation, pest control sprays and machine harvest of early varieties.

Some harvest of early peach varieties began in the southwestern part of the state. The potato crop looks to be in excellent condition and harvest should begin soon.

Jeff Troike, Ceres’ CEO based at the Crawfordsville, Ind., headquarters, reported Indiana’s variable summer weather continues to impact crop condition. “Jasper and Newton counties’ crops are looking really good. The south (of Indiana) is getting enough moisture to get by.

“Logansport, Huntington and Wabash have tighter soils and have received lots of rain, forcing replants. Some of our crops are stressed a lot, while others are flourishing,” he said.

According to NASS, Kentucky’s topsoil and subsoil moisture is running around 80 percent, and pastures are rated 66 percent good condition. Corn, soybeans and tobacco set are also ranked around 65 percent in the “good” category.

Heat indices across the Midwest are well into the 90s and low 100s at times, creating stressful conditions for livestock in the afternoon and evening hours. An average of 4.5 days was suitable for fieldwork across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
7/26/2017