Above average temperatures and minimal precipitation allowed farmers to wrap up commercial corn harvest and make progress on fall fieldwork, according to Greg Matli, Indiana State Statistician for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Much of the state saw mild weather, with a strong storm in the middle of the week that brought 60mph wind gusts. Few reports of any damages were reported as a result of the storm. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork this week, on par with last week.
The dry and warm weather has only left a few scattered fields that remain to be harvested for commercial corn. Winter wheat continues to emerge and grow well with 66% in good to excellent condition. The primary concern is that the crop could use additional moisture to set in for the winter months.
Some growers are baling corn stalks to use as supplemental forage for livestock. Much of the livestock continues to graze on pasture. With harvest completed, farmers continued to do fall tillage work and land improvement projects such as clearing fence rows and laying tile. Other activities included hauling grain, cleaning up machinery, applying fertilizer and lime, taking soil samples, preparing end of the year financials, and gearing up for next crop season.
By region, winter wheat emerged was 97% in the North, 92% in Central, and 94% in the South.
