in-crop-weather

State
Indiana Crop Weather

Week Ending Date  
May 6, 2007

Issue
IN-CW182007


                        Agricultural Summary

Most of the state experienced a good week for field activities,
according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural
Statistics Service. However, some southern portions of the state
received heavy precipitation which kept farmers out of the fields for
several days. Strong winds during the week made it difficult to 
spray. Some farmers were using rotary hoes to break up the crusted 
soils in emerging corn fields. Planting of corn made good progress 
and is now only 4 days behind average and 3 days behind last year. 
Planting of soybeans is 6 days behind the average pace and 3 days 
behind last year. 

                                   
                         Field Crops Report 

There were 4.2 days suitable for field work. Forty-two percent of the
intended corn acreage has been planted compared with 49 percent last
year and 52 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 37 percent has 
been planted in the north, 51 percent the central region, and 37 
percent in the south. Eight percent of the corn acreage has emerged 
compared with 15 percent last year and 17 percent for the 5-year 
average. Ten percent of the intended soybean acreage has been planted
compared with 14 percent last year and 20 percent for the 5-year 
average. 

Seventy-nine percent of the winter wheat acreage is jointed compared
with 86 percent for last year and 89 percent for the 5-year average.
Winter wheat condition is rated 37 percent good to excellent compared
to 83 percent last year at this time. 

Major activities during the week included: soil preparation, spraying
herbicides, apply fertilizer, hauling manure and taking care of
livestock.


                    Livestock, Pasture and Range Report 

Pasture condition is rated 10% excellent, 51% good, 33% fair, 6% poor,
and 0% very poor. Livestock remain in mostly good condition. Hay
supplies are running short in some areas. 

                           
                    Crop Progress Table
-------------------------------------------------------
                       : This : Last : Last : 5-Year
     Crop              : Week : Week : Year :  Avg
-------------------------------------------------------
                             Percent
Corn Planted              42     13     49     52
Corn Emerged               8     NA     15     17
Soybeans Planted          10      2     14     20
Winter Wheat Jointed      79     60     86     89
Winter Wheat Headed       10     NA     25     18


                    Crop Condition Table
-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : Very :      :      :      : Excel-
     Crop           : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :  lent
----------------------------------------------------------- 
                             Percent
Pasture                 0      6     33     51     10
Winter Wheat 2007       7     16     40     34      3
Winter Wheat 2006       0      3     14     62     21


        Soil Moisture & Days Suitable
             for Fieldwork Table
----------------------------------------
               : This  : Last  : Last :
               : Week  : Week  : Year :
----------------------------------------
                      Percent
Topsoil
  Very Short       0       0       0
  Short            1       0       3
  Adequate        72      54      74
  Surplus         27      46      23
Subsoil
  Very Short       0       0       1
  Short            0       0       5
  Adequate        79      67      76
  Surplus         21      33      18
Days Suitable    4.2     2.9     3.2
                                            
Contact information
--Greg Preston, Director
--Andy Higgins, Agricultural Statistician
  E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov
  http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Indiana        
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Other Agricultural Comments And News

                                     
               HYBRIDS ADJUST TO DELAYED PLANTING DATES
                                     
Producers are delayed again in regard to planting due to the recent
rainfall across all of Iowa. The optimum planting window for corn
generally falls from April 15 to May 15 with yields quickly declining
after that; see Corn Planting: Consider soil temperature and date for
more information. Although producers are currently still within this
optimum window, some are questioning whether longer season maturity
hybrids should be swapped for shorter season hybrids. The quick 
answer is no. 

Hybrids can respond to delayed planting dates. The time spent in
vegetative and reproductive development will be greater or less
depending on planting date and relative maturity of the hybrid. Two 
ways exist to examine hybrid response to planting dates, either by 
calendar date or growing degree day (GDD) accumulation; here calendar
dates are discussed only. 

Researchers studied the response of three hybrids with relative 
maturity ratings of 106, 111, and 115 across three planting dates. 
The research was published in 2002 by colleagues at Purdue University
and The Ohio State University. Planting dates were defined as Early 
(generally April 25-May 10), Mid (generally May 20-June 1), and Late 
(generally June 10-15). Researchers measured the time required to 
reach a number of key developmental stages; here we will look at 
three primary times: (1) the total number of days from planting to
silking (R1), (2) the total number of days from silking to 
physiological maturity (R6), and (3) the total number of days from
planting to physiological maturity. The number of days within these
categories provides clarity on how hybrids vary in their 
(1) vegetative (V stages), (2) reproductive (R stages), and (3)
complete development based on planting date. 

A few interesting points were identified from the research. FIRST, 
AS PLANTING DATE WAS DELAYED, ALL HYBRIDS SHORTENED THE TIME BETWEEN
PLANTING AND SILKING; in other words, the time allotted to vegetative
growth was reduced. Across the three hybrids, days from planting to
silking were 75, 66, and 61, respectively, for Early, Mid, and Late
planting dates. Although the exact number of days will differ based 
on the relative maturity of a hybrid (greater for longer season 
maturity, less for shorter season maturity), the downward trend was
consistent for all three hybrids. 

SECOND, the number of days between silking and physiological maturity
varied by hybrid and planting date. But ALL HYBRIDS, WHEN PLANTED 
LATE, INCREASED THE NUMBER OF DAYS BETWEEN SILKING AND PHYSIOLOGICAL
MATURITY. Across the three hybrids, days from silking to physiological
maturity were 63, 66, and 68, respectively, for Early, Mid, and Late
planting dates. Some hybrids, though, responded more than others. By
looking at the individual hybrid response to each planting date, the
researchers found that the longer season (115 RM) hybrid was more 
consistent in the time needed to go from R1 to R6; whereas the 106 
and 111 RM hybrids responded to planting date with greater variation.
The 115 RM hybrid only fluctuated by 1-2 days across all planting 
dates. Yet, as planting was delayed, the 106 and 111 RM hybrids took 
up to 5 days longer to go from R1 to R6 compared to the Early 
planting. Therefore, the 115 RM hybrid was fairly consistent in the 
time needed to go from R1 to R6 and independent of planting date. 
The 106 and 111 RM hybrids, however, fluctuated more relative to 
planting date. 

THIRD, HYBRIDS CHANGE THE LENGTH OF TIME FROM PLANTING TO SILKING 
MORE THAN THE TIME FROM SILKING TO PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURITY. In general,
the reduction in time spent in vegetative growth outweighs the 
increased time spent in reproductive growth. Note the above data for
hybrid response to Late versus Early plantings; time in vegetative 
growth was reduced by 14 days (75 - 61 = 14-day reduction for Late) 
whereas time in reproductive growth was increased by 5 days 
(68 - 63 = 5-day increase for Late). The summation of these values 
shows that the hybrids adjusted to the shorter growing season by a
reduction of 9 days total (-14 + 5 = -9 days). It is clear that 
hybrids compensate mostly by shortening the time necessary to reach
silking when planting is delayed. 

Although Iowa corn acres will be planted later than previous years,
switching hybrids at this point is not needed. Hybrids can compensate
for these later planting dates. Producers will obviously want to plant
longer season hybrids as soon as they can to allow for the longest
growing season. Development and final yield of these hybrids will not
be largely affected unless frost occurs especially early this fall. 

Find other corn production information at the Iowa State University
Extension Corn Production Web site. Submit comments and questions to
isucorn@iastate.edu. 

For the full research paper: Nielsen, R.L., P.R. Thomison, G.A. 
Brown, A.L. Halter, J. Wells, and K.L.Wuethrich. 2002. Delayed 
planting effects on flowering and grain maturation of dent corn. 
Agron. J. 94:549-558. 

Lori Abendroth is an agronomy specialist with research and extension
responsibilities in corn production. Roger Elmore is professor of
agronomy with research and extension responsibilities in corn
production. 

This article originally appeared on pages 130-131 of the IC-498 (8) 
-- April 30, 2007 issue by Lori Abendroth and Roger Elmore, 
Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Integrated Crop 
Management Newsletter. Updated 05/03/2007 - 1:30pm. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
The INDIANA CROP & WEATHER REPORT (USPS 675-770), (ISSN 0442-817X) is
issued weekly April through November by the USDA, NASS, Indiana Field
Office, 1435 Win Hentschel Blvd, Suite 110, 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 USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office, 1435 Win
Hentschel Blvd, Suite 110, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             Weather Information Table

           Week ending Sunday May 6, 2007
-----------------------------------------------------
                | Past Week Weather Summary Data   
                |---------------------------------
 Station        |      Air      |            | Avg  
                |  Temperature  |  Precip.   |4 in.  
                |---------------|------------|Soil 
                |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp 
----------------------------------------------------- 
Northwest (1)                                    
Chalmers_5W      88  45   64  +8   0.05    1     
Francesville     86  48   64  +8   0.03    2     
Valparaiso_AP_I  87  45   62  +8   0.13    2     
Wanatah          88  44   61  +8   0.22    2   62
Winamac          86  48   63  +8   0.08    2   61
North Central(2)                                
Plymouth         84  46   61  +5   0.21    2     
South_Bend       85  48   63  +9   0.03    1     
Young_America    87  47   63  +8   0.31    1     
Northeast (3)                                   
Columbia_City    85  46   60  +7   0.42    3   55
Fort_Wayne       85  45   62  +7   0.14    2     
West Central(4)                                 
Greencastle      86  43   65  +6   0.35    2     
Perrysville      89  51   68 +11   0.02    2   65
Spencer_Ag       86  50   65  +9   0.29    3     
Terre_Haute_AFB  86  55   67  +9   0.41    3     
W_Lafayette_6NW  89  51   66 +10   0.00    0   65
Central (5)                                     
Eagle_Creek_AP   87  51   68 +10   0.00    0     
Greenfield       87  50   65  +8   0.04    1     
Indianapolis_AP  86  52   67  +9   0.04    1     
Indianapolis_SE  85  50   65  +8   0.02    1     
Tipton_Ag        85  46   64 +10   0.01    1   65
East Central(6)                                 
Farmland         83  46   62  +8   0.12    2   60
New_Castle       85  47   63  +9   0.10    1     
Southwest (7)                                   
Evansville       87  55   70  +9   1.27    3       
Freelandville    86  55   68 +10   1.04    3     
Shoals           88  48   67  +9   0.60    3     
Stendal          90  52   70 +11   0.71    3     
Vincennes_5NE    88  55   70 +11   0.86    4   66
South Central(8)                                
Leavenworth      88  55   69 +10   0.92    4     
Oolitic          84  45   66  +9   0.81    2   64
Tell_City        87  52   70 +10   0.91    2     
Southeast (9)                                   
Brookville       89  49   66 +10   0.18    2     
Greensburg       87  50   66  +9   0.05    2     
Scottsburg       87  52   67  +8   1.39    3     
----------------------------------------------------


      Weather Information Table (Continued)

         Week ending Sunday May 6, 2007
------------------------------------------------
                        Accumulation           
                --------------------------------
                      April 1, 2007 thru       
 Station                 May 6, 2007       
                 --------------------------------
                  Precipitation   |GDD Base 50oF
                 --------------------------------
                       |     |    |     |
                 Total | DFN |Days|Total|  DFN   
-------------------------------------------------
Northwest (1)   | 
Chalmers_5W     | 4.25  -0.16   11   196   +29
Francesville    | 4.27  -0.10   12   184   +51
Valparaiso_AP_I | 3.04  -1.70    8   185   +61
Wanatah         | 5.29  +0.76   11   158   +59
Winamac         | 4.26  -0.11   11   183   +50
North Central(2)|
Plymouth        | 5.27  +0.65   14   162   +18
South_Bend      | 4.61  +0.15   12   194   +82
Young_America   | 3.50  -0.69    9   205   +76
Northeast (3)   |
Columbia_City   | 3.70  -0.60   11   160   +63
Fort_Wayne      | 3.70  -0.34   15   197   +77
West Central(4) |
Greencastle     | 4.50  -0.10   12   230   +42
Perrysville     | 3.55  -1.10   12   276  +119
Spencer_Ag      | 5.24  +0.33   13   238   +75
Terre_Haute_AFB | 4.57  -0.19   12   286   +97
W_Lafayette_6NW | 4.26  -0.23   12   221   +87
Central (5)     |
Eagle_Creek_AP  | 4.24  -0.24   13   287  +109
Greenfield      | 5.26  +0.38   18   239   +89
Indianapolis_AP | 3.84  -0.64   14   283  +105
Indianapolis_SE | 5.46  +0.85   15   239   +75
Tipton_Ag       | 3.53  -1.14   12   204   +92
East Central(6) |
Farmland        | 4.71  +0.42   13   183   +78
New_Castle      | 5.47  +0.54   11   216  +106
Southwest (7)   |
Evansville      | 4.89  -0.03   13   361   +82
Freelandville   | 3.88  -0.93   12   310  +102
Shoals          | 5.72  +0.64   13   286   +82
Stendal         | 5.38  -0.05   14   377  +139
Vincennes_5NE   | 4.05  -0.76   13   322  +114
South Central(8)| 
Leavenworth     | 6.40  +0.89   14   326  +116
Oolitic         | 5.60  +0.70   13   264   +86
Tell_City       | 5.51  -0.26   13   357  +106
Southeast (9)   |
Brookville      | 3.81  -0.91   13   283  +143
Greensburg      | 5.00  +0.01   15   284  +118
Scottsburg      | 7.48  +2.44   14   302   +92 
------------------------------------------------------------------
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 2007:  Agricultural Weather Information Service, 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