in-crop-weather


State
Indiana Crop Weather

Week Ending Date  
August 24, 2003

Issue
IN-CW3403


Agricultural Summary
     
Another week of hot temperatures and lack of
precipitation placed more stress on major crops
around the state, according to the Indiana
Agricultural Statistics Service.  Reporters in most
regions indicate corn and soybeans need rain to help
grain fill in corn and pod fill in soybean plants.  
Both corn and soybean condition declined last week. 
Many farmers continued scouting fields for insects,
especially aphids in soybean fields.  Spraying for
insects took place in some fields. Farmers had
another excellent week for cutting and baling hay. 
Weeds are showing up in some fields.


Field Crops Report
     
There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork. 
Seventy percent of the corn acreage has reached
the dough stage compared with 72 percent last year
and 89 percent for the 5-year average.  Twenty-one
percent of the corn acreage has reached the dent
stage compared with 25 percent last year and 50
percent for the average.  By area, 17 percent of the
corn acreage is in the dent stage in the north, 25
percent in the central region and 23 percent in the
south.  One percent of the corn acreage is mature
(safe from frost) compared with 1 percent a year ago
and 5 percent for the 5-year average. Corn
condition declined from last week and is rated 56
percent good to excellent compared with 29 percent
last year at this time.  

Eighty-two percent of the soybean acreage is
setting pods compared with 83 percent last year
and 93 percent for the average.  One percent of the
soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with
4 percent last year and 6 percent for the average.
Soybean condition also declined and is rated 57
percent good to excellent compared with 38 percent
last year at this time.

Major activities during the week were mowing and
baling hay, spraying for weeds and insects, cleaning
up and repairing equipment,  moving grain to market,
mowing roadsides, cleaning out grain bins and
taking care of livestock.


Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Pasture condition is rated 6 percent excellent, 61
percent good, 23 percent fair, 7 percent poor and 3
percent very poor.  Third cutting of alfalfa hay is 
51 percent complete compared with 52 percent last 
year and 76 percent for average.  Tobacco harvest 
is 7 percent complete compared with 9 percent last
year and 19 percent for the average.  Livestock are
in mostly good condition, but were under some stress.
                              

                    Crop Progress Table
-----------------------------------------------------
                     : This :  Last :  Last : 5-Year
     Crop            : Week :  Week :  Year :  Avg
-----------------------------------------------------
                                     Percent
Corn In Dough           70      45      72      89
Corn In Dent            21       6      25      50
Corn Mature              1      NA       1       5
Soybeans Setting Pods   82      63      83      93
Soybeans Shedding Lvs    1      NA       4       6
Alfalfa Third Cutting   51      27      52      76
Tobacco Harvested        7      NA       9      19


                    Crop Condition Table
-------------------------------------------------------------
                     : Very :      :      :      : Excel-
     Crop            : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :  lent
-------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Percent
Corn                     5     11     28     43     13
Soybean                  5      9     29     47     10
Pasture                  3      7     23     61      6

                                     
   Soil Moisture & Days Suitable For Fieldwork Table
-------------------------------------------------------
                     : This  : Last  :  Last
                     : Week  : Week  :  Year
-------------------------------------------------------
                            Percent
Topsoil
  Very Short              8       1      29
  Short                  31      12      38
  Adequate               59      78      31
  Surplus                 2       9       2
Subsoil
  Very Short              6       3      32
  Short                  21       8      40
  Adequate               70      82      27
  Surplus                 3       7       1
Days Suitable           6.8     6.1     5.6

Contact information
--Greg Preston, State Statistician
--Bud Bever, Agricultural Statistician
  E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov
 http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/index.htm                                     

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Agricultural Comments And News

STALK HEALTH ISSUES IN STRESSED CORN
                                     
Even though the current USDA corn production
estimate for Indiana is remarkably optimistic
(<http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/pressrel/de08120
3.txt>), many growers recognize that individual
fields or areas within fields have been struggling
against multiple stresses throughout the season. 
Problems resulting from stress in 2003 include
root damage and lower leaf death due to soggy
soils, leaf canopy yellowing and death due to
nitrogen deficiency resulting from soggy soils,
stunted root and canopy development due to
excessively dry soil moisture conditions, limited
crop canopy photosynthesis due to frequent
cloudy or hazy days, and root damage from corn
rootworm larva feeding.

Fields or areas within fields that have suffered
one or more of these stresses will be stressed
further during the grain filling period as the
photosynthetic factory tries to keep up with the
physiological demands of the developing ears.  In
some severe situations, plants that are unable to
keep up with the demand, due to less than
healthy root systems or crop canopies, will resort
to cannibalizing stored carbohydrate reserves in
the lower stalk tissue and remobilizing those
reserves to the developing ears.

Such remobilization of stored carbohydrates from
lower stalk tissue causes an overall deterioration
of lower stalk integrity and strength.  More
importantly, as carbohydrate concentrations
decrease in the lower stalk or root tissues, their
resistance to the soil complex of root- and stalk-
rotting organisms also decreases.

Beginning in late August or early September,
growers should begin regular inspections of
suspect fields that have endured multiple stresses
this year and monitor the general health of the
lower stalk and roots of plants.  Stalk health in
such fields further stressed by excessively dry
soil conditions during grain filling will be
particularly suspect.

The simplest diagnostic technique is to push
stalks away from you as you walk down rows of
corn and see whether they collapse and break or
"spring back" to a vertical position.  Easily broken
plants signal either significant cannibalization of
lower stalk tissue or development of stalk rot.  In
either case, such fields are prime candidates for
stalk lodging concerns prior to harvest.

Pinching lower stalk internodes between your
fingers can identify lesser degrees of stalk health
concerns.  If the internodes "give way" or collapse
easily, that is also a signal that stalk health has
been compromised.  Split such stalks in half and
inspect the interior for obvious disease
symptoms.

Root health can be monitored first by attempting
to pull plants out of the soil with your hands.  If
this can be done easily, chances are that root
health has been compromised and the field is at
risk of root lodging if severe windstorms occur
prior to harvest.  If plants do not pull easily, then
dig a few plants, wash the soil away from the root
system, and inspect the roots for discoloration
(red, purple, brown) that could indicate early root
rot development.

If fields are identified that are clearly high risk for
root or stalk lodging prior to harvest, then
schedule these fields for earlier than anticipated
harvest to minimize the risk and consequences of
severe lodging relative to potential mechanical
harvest losses.

Related References:

Shaner, G.  And D.  Scott.  1998.  Stalk Rots of Corn
(BP-59).  Purdue Univ.  Coop.  Extension Service, W. 
Lafayette, IN.  Available online at <http://www.agcom
purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/BP/BP-59.pm65.pdf>. [URL
verified 8/13/03]. Malvick, D.  2000.  Corn Stalk Rots
(RPD-200).  Univ.  of Illinois Coop.  Extension Service,
Urbana, IL.  Available online at<http://web.aces.uiuc.
edu/vista/pdf_pubs/200.PDF>. [URL verified 8/13/03].

Munkvold, G.  1996.  Corn Stalk Rot in Iowa (IPM-
50). Iowa State Univ.  Coop.  Extension Service,
Ames, IA.  Available online at <http://www.ag.iastate.
edu/departments/plantpath/extension/corn_stalk_rot
.pdf>. [URL verified 8/13/03].

Stack, J.  1999.  Common Stalk Rot Diseases of
Corn (G99-1385-A).  Univ.  of Nebraska Coop. 
Extension Service, Lincoln, NE.  Available online at
<http://ianrsearch.unl.edu/pubs/plantdisease/g1385.
htm>. [URL verified 8/13/03].

Vincelli, P.  and D.E. Hershman.  Corn Stalk Rots
(PPA-26).  Univ.  of Kentucky Coop.  Extension
Service, Lexington, KY.  Available online at
<http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ppa/ppa26/ppa26.
htm>. [URL verified 8/13/03].

This article contains color photographs and may be
viewed at:<http://www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology
/ext/targets/p&c/P&C2003/P&C22_2003.pdf>, page 4.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 
                    Weather Information Table
     
               Week Ending Sunday August 24, 2003
---------------------------------------------------------------
                | Past Week Weather Summary Data   
                |---------------------------------
 Station        |      Air      |           | Avg  
                |  Temperature  |  Precip.  |4 in.  
                |---------------|-----------|Soil 
                |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN|Total |Days|Temp 
------------------------------------------------------------- 
Northwest (1)   |                                
Chalmers_5W     |94  55   73  +3   0.02    1   76
Valparaiso_AP_I |95  53   72  +3   0.00    0     
Wanatah         |94  52   71  +2   0.00    0   82
Wheatfield      |94  54   72  +3   0.00    0     
Winamac         |92  57   72  +3   0.00    0   76
North Central(2)|                                
Plymouth        |94  55   72  +2   0.23    1     
South_Bend      |97  56   74  +4   0.05    1     
Young_America   |90  56   72  +2   0.00    0     
Northeast (3)   |                                
Columbia_City   |92  55   71  +2   0.33    1   77
Fort_Wayne      |92  54   71  +0   0.38    1     
West Central (4)|                                
Greencastle     |90  52   70  -4   0.00    0     
Perrysville     |94  52   73  +3   0.00    0   76
Spencer_Ag      |92  57   74  +3   0.06    1     
Terre_Haute_AFB |92  54   74  +2   0.00    0     
W_Lafayette_6NW |93  54   73  +4   0.00    0   82
Central (5)     |                                
Eagle_Creek_AP  |89  59   74  +2   0.00    0     
Greenfield      |90  56   72  +0   0.15    1     
Indianapolis_AP |89  60   75  +3   0.00    0     
Indianapolis_SE |90  55   74  +2   0.00    0     
Tipton_Ag       |90  53   71  +2   0.00    0   80
East Central (6)|                                
Farmland        |90  53   70  +2   0.00    0   77
New_Castle      |85  53   69  -3   0.00    0     
Southwest (7)   |                                
Evansville      |95  61   79  +4   0.00    0     
Freelandville   |91  60   75  +3   0.09    1     
Shoals          |93  59   76  +4   0.00    0     
Stendal         |94  60   78  +4   0.00    0     
Vincennes_5NE   |94  60   77  +4   0.29    2     
South Central(8)|                                
Leavenworth     |92  61   77  +5   0.49    2     
Oolitic         |90  57   74  +2   0.00    0   79
Tell_City       |95  63   80  +6   0.00    0     
Southeast (9)   |                                
Brookville      |92  57   74  +4   0.00    0     
Milan_5NE       |90  57   73  +3   0.47    3     
Scottsburg      |92  57   75  +2   0.46    1     
---------------------------------------------------


                     Weather Information Table

                 Week ending Sunday August 24, 2003
----------------|--------------------------------
                |        Accumulation           
                |--------------------------------
                |      April 1, 2003 thru       
 Station        |       August 24, 2003         
                |--------------------------------
                | Precipitation   |GDD Base 50oF
                |--------------------------------
                |      |     |    |     |
                |Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN   
-------------------------------------------------
Northwest (1)   |
Chalmers_5W     |27.41  +9.09   56  2257  -159
Valparaiso_AP_I |20.34  +1.41   57  2087  -117
Wanatah         |20.93  +2.46   59  1958  -151
Wheatfield      |30.13 +12.12   55  2150   -11
Winamac         |23.91  +5.64   56  2119  -109
North Central(2)|
Plymouth        |19.43  +0.91   57  2037  -297
South_Bend      |17.86  +0.06   52  2132   -61
Young_America   |25.39  +7.93   55  2246   -41
Northeast (3)   |
Columbia_City   |21.03  +3.39   64  2078   -12
Fort_Wayne      |24.54  +8.04   53  2126  -164
West Central (4)| 
Greencastle     |21.94  +1.24   56  2152  -424
Perrysville     |18.78  -0.92   50  2410    +4
Spencer_Ag      |21.95  +0.74   67  2397   -32
Terre_Haute_AFB |16.50  -3.14   47  2531   -33
W_Lafayette_6NW |21.33  +3.05   60  2311   +31
Central (5)     |
Eagle_Creek_AP  |21.03  +2.48   50  2443  -100
Greenfield      |22.85  +2.42   60  2293  -143
Indianapolis_AP |22.14  +3.59   55  2494   -49
Indianapolis_SE |21.42  +2.19   56  2323  -204
Tipton_Ag       |25.87  +7.29   57  2112  -103
East Central (6)|
Farmland        |23.18  +5.14   54  2204   +42
New_Castle      |20.63  +0.93   50  1913  -301
Southwest (7)   |
Evansville      |20.44  +1.69   54  2839  -116
Freelandville   |21.91  +2.36   51  2627   -22
Shoals          |23.88  +2.66   54  2575   +14
Stendal         |20.48  -0.51   44  2719   -64
Vincennes_5NE   |23.84  +4.29   71  2681   +32
South Central(8)|
Leavenworth     |23.25  +1.50   72  2607   +57
Oolitic         |24.75  +4.29   61  2451    +2
Tell_City       |21.03  -0.41   47  2983  +157
Southeast (9)   |
Brookville      |21.40  +1.55   57  2473  +149
Milan_5NE       |26.49  +6.64   85  2388   +64
Scottsburg      |22.08  +1.94   62  2473  -161
------------------------------------------------------------- 
DFN = Departure From Normal (Using 1961-90 Normals Period).
GDD = Growing Degree Days.
Precipitation (Rainfall or melted snow/ice) in inches.
Precipitation Days = Days with precip of .01 inch or more.
Air Temperatures in Degrees Fahrenheit.

Copyright 2003:  AWIS, Inc.  All rights reserved.

       The above weather information is provided by AWIS, Inc.
For detailed ag weather forecasts and data visit the AWIS home page at
          www.awis.com or call toll free at 1-888-798-9955.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------


The INDIANA CROP WEATHER REPORT (USPS 675-770), (ISSN 0442-817X) is
issued weekly April through November by the Indiana Agricultural 
Statistics Service, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite B105, 
West Lafayette  IN 47906-4145.  Second Class postage paid at 
Lafayette IN.  For information on subscribing, send request to above
address.  POSTMASTER:   Send address change to the Indiana Agricultural
Statistics Service, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite B105,  
West Lafayette IN  47906-4145.                           

Source: Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service