By Andrea McCann
Washington Times-Herald
WASHINGTON —
On the whole, Daviess County farmers are having a top-notch growing season.
“Right now everything appears to be looking pretty good,” said Daviess County Extension ag educator Scott Monroe. “Corn is, as far as I can tell, ahead of schedule. Most of the early corn is pollinating now. There’s accelerated growth in soybeans. By and large, the grain crops are looking good. There are some pockets of wind and water damage, but taken as a whole, the crop condition is favorable.”
In fact, farm work across the entire state is ahead of schedule, and crops are in great shape. Last week, warmer, drier weather returned, allowing standing water in fields to dry out and producers to finish planting soybeans and spraying. According to the Indiana office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), there were 5.3 days last week suitable for field work, and both topsoil and subsoil moisture are adequate.
The weekly Indiana Crop & Weather Report ending July 4 said 31 percent of corn has silked compared to 2 percent at the same time last year and 8 percent for the five-year average. Sixty-two percent of the corn crop is rated good to excellent; only 3 percent is considered in poor condition.
Ninety-six percent of soybeans have emerged compared to 94 percent at the same time last year and 97 percent for the five-year average. Twenty-three percent of the soybean crop is blooming, compared to 3 percent at the same time last year and 13 percent for the five-year average. Sixty percent of the state’s soybean crop is considered good to excellent; 3 percent is rated poor.
The state’s winter wheat crop is 71 percent harvested compared to 52 percent last year and 51 percent for the five-year average. Only 1 percent of the crop is considered to be in poor condition, with some reports of vomitoxin and low test weights; 57 percent of the winter wheat crop is rated good to excellent. Some farmers have begun planting double-cropped soybeans after wheat harvest.
Ninety-seven percent of the first alfalfa cutting is complete, compared to 98 percent last year and 99 percent for the five-year average. The second cutting has begun, with 23 percent complete compared to 26 percent at the same time last year and 32 percent for the five-year average.
“Most people have gotten through the first cutting of grass hay,” Monroe said of Daviess County producers. “It was a little difficult to get through the first one because of the moisture.”
Currently, vegetable crops also are looking good in the county.
“Sweet corn is in ample supply,” Monroe said. “It’s coming off bountifully. Cantaloupes are just coming on, and I imagine watermelons are about a week off.”
He said he’s not seen anything out of the ordinary locally, but tomato late blight has been confirmed in Dearborn County, so he’s keeping an eye on that situation, although he said he’s not sure there’s need for concern in this area.
