EAST LANSING, Mich. – Crops are looking good for the week ending June 13, according to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report. While some of the Midwest has drought conditions; other parts have experienced wet conditions.

“Crop conditions remained stable, despite inconsistencies in rainfall,” said Nathanial Warenski, Indiana state statistician at the Great Lakes Region office in East Lansing, Mich. “Soil moisture levels decreased slightly from the previous week, with 80 percent of topsoil moisture reported as adequate or surplus.

“Scattered showers in northern Indiana kept crop conditions stable, but did little to replenish subsoil moisture levels,” he added. “More rain was needed to prevent stress in corn. Regular rain and occasional flooding in southern Indiana resulted in saturated fields, and slowed hay harvesting for some. Corn and soybean emergence neared completion, and remained ahead of average.”

In Illinois, there were 5.9 suitable days for field work during the week ending June 13, the state’s crop report said. Corn that emerged reached 98 percent, compared to the five-year average of 90 percent, with corn condition rated 1 percent very poor to 11 percent excellent.

The report added soybeans planted reached 95 percent, compared to the five-year average of 87 percent. Soybeans that emerged reached 91 percent, compared to the five-year average of 75 percent. Soybean condition rated 1 percent very poor to 10 percent excellent. Winter wheat condition rated 1 percent very poor to 23 percent excellent.

In Iowa, unseasonably warm temperatures and limited rainfall led to an increase in drought conditions across the state, said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.

“Early-planted crops are starting to show moisture stress, and the short-term forecast shows only minor chances of precipitation,” he said. Iowa Climatologist Justin Glisan added, “Sweltering temperatures were the story across Iowa during the reporting period as long-term and very dry conditions persist over portions of the Midwest.”

Across the state, the report said farmers saw signs of crop stress in fields due to lack of precipitation and high heat. Corn emergence is nearly complete except for some re-planted fields.

Statewide, soybeans emerged reached 93 percent, 9 days ahead of the five-year average, the report said. There were scattered reports of soybeans blooming. Oats headed reached 56 percent, three days ahead of normal. In addition, the first cutting of alfalfa hay reach 87 percent complete.

In Kentucky, scattered rain stymied work in the fields the past week, said David Knopf, director of the USDA Kentucky Field Office in Louisville, Ky.

“Rainfall was heavy at times, and led to flooding in parts of the state,” he said.

He said even with the weather being unstable, farmers were able to push ahead in the fields.

“With the majority of the corn crop in the ground, condition remains good,” he said. “Conditions vary significantly, based on the area, however. The average height of corn is 18 inches, with 94 percent of the crop emerged. Soybean planting remains ahead of where it is historically at this juncture, with 64 percent of the crop emerged.

“Wheat condition remains mostly good, with 70 percent of the crop in the coloring stage, and 40 percent of the crop mature,” he added. “Recent weather patterns have slowed the maturation of the wheat crop. Lodging has been reported, and may adversely affect yields.”

In Michigan, nearly 30 percent of the state was experiencing severe drought conditions, according to Marlo D. Johnson, director of the Great Lakes Regional Office.

“The vast majority of the driest counties were concentrated in the south-central Lower Peninsula,” she said. “Winter wheat condition held steady, with 55 percent of the crop rated in good to excellent condition.

“Dry weather has continued to suppress disease pressure, but may pose a serious threat to grain fill,” she added. “Corn and soybean progress continued to press forward as both crops were nearing full emergence.”

She said hot, dry weather continued to provide challenges to fruit producers in Michigan.

“Even with passing thunderstorms, major fruit growing regions in the state remained in a drought,” she said. “Growers irrigated when it was available. Mid-season apple varieties were 20 (milimeters) in the Grand Rapids area, and early-season varieties were around 1 inch there.”

In Ohio, spotty precipitation occurred, with some areas reporting too much rain, and other areas reporting not enough rain; but overall conditions remained adequate for crop growth, according to Cheryl Turner, Ohio State Statistician.

“Farmers sprayed crops and side-dressed nitrogen on corn fields,” she said. “Oats emerged was complete, and oats condition was rated 75 percent good to excellent. Corn planted progress was complete, while corn emerged was at 94 percent.

“Soybeans planted progress was 95 percent, while soybeans emerged was 86 percent,” she added. “Winter wheat headed was 97 percent, and the winter wheat crop was rated 77 percent good to excellent condition.” In Tennessee, wet conditions continue to dominant the state, the state’s crop report said.

“In West Tennessee, wet conditions continued to keep farmers from their fields,” the report said. “In a few drier areas, post-emergent herbicides were applied to corn and soybeans. Corn was reported in good condition, but the excess moisture was taking a toll on cotton condition.”

“In Middle Tennessee, hay producers were waiting for drier weather so they could finish up their first cutting,” the report said. “In areas where the first cutting was complete, regrowth was looking good, raising hopes that the second cutting might produce better yields. Pastures were looking very good for this time of year.”

In East Tennessee, wet, humid conditions were causing disease pressure on crops to increase, the report added, with hay producers reporting significantly lower-than-normal yields for their first cuttings.