in-crop-weather

State
Indiana Crop Weather

Week Ending Date  
November 4, 2007

Issue
IN-CW442007

                        Agricultural Summary

Favorable weather persisted during the week allowing many farmers to
finish with harvest, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's
National Agricultural Statistics Service. Soybean harvest is nearing
completion with only scattered fields and some double cropped 
soybeans remaining. Emergence and growth of the winter wheat crop has
been very good this fall. Other activities included fall tillage,
cleaning and storing equipment, spreading dry fertilizer and lime, 
injecting anhydrous ammonia, applications of fall herbicides, 
stripping tobacco, hauling manure and taking care of livestock. 

                                   
                        Field Crops Report

There were 6.3 days suitable for field work. Ninety-one percent of 
the corn acreage has been harvested compared with 62 percent last
year and 77 percent for the 5-year average. By area, corn harvest is
86 percent complete in the north, 92 percent in the central region, 
and 97 percent in the south. Moisture content of harvested corn 
continues to average about 16 percent. 

Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop has been harvested compared 
with 84 percent last year and 92 percent for the 5-year average. By 
area, soybean harvest is 96 percent complete in the north, 97 percent 
in the central region, and 95 percent in the south. Moisture content
of harvested soybeans averaged about 11.5 percent. 

Ninety-eight percent of the winter wheat has been seeded at this time
compared with 92 percent last year and 93 percent for the 5-year
average. Ninety-one percent of the winter wheat acreage has emerged
compared with 58 percent last year and 74 percent for the 5-year
average. 

                        
                   Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Pastures have experienced some re-growth with recent rainfall and
moderate temperatures. However, many producers continue to sell
livestock due to short forage supplies. Livestock remain in mostly 
good condition. 
            

                    Crop Progress Table
-------------------------------------------------------
                       : This : Last : Last : 5-Year
     Crop              : Week : Week : Year :  Avg
-------------------------------------------------------
                             Percent
Corn Harvested            91     81     62     77
Soybeans Harvested        96     91     84     92
Winter Wheat Planted      98     94     92     93
Winter Wheat Emerged      91     82     58     74

                    Crop Condition Table
-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : Very :      :      :      : Excel-
     Crop           : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good :  lent
----------------------------------------------------------- 
                             Percent                             
Winter Wheat            0      2     20     63     15

        Soil Moisture & Days Suitable
             for Fieldwork Table
----------------------------------------
               : This  : Last  : Last :
               : Week  : Week  : Year :
----------------------------------------
                      Percent
Topsoil 
  Very Short       8       8       0
  Short           19      19       1
  Adequate        72      67      69
  Surplus          1       6      30
Subsoil
  Very Short      21      22       0
  Short           34      40       2
  Adequate        44      38      76
  Surplus          1       0      22
Days Suitable    6.3     3.5     4.8

--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

                 CORN PRICES AT MARKETING YEAR HIGH
                                     
                                     
- October 29, 2007

Cash corn prices in some markets are at the highest level for the
marketing year that began on September 1. The recent strength 
reflects higher futures prices and a stronger basis. 

The average cash corn price in central Illinois briefly dipped below
$3.00 in mid-September and was just above $3.00 on October 8. That
average, however, was at $3.47 on October 26. Since reaching a low of
about $3.35 in early October, December 2007 corn futures settled at
$3.72 on October 26. The average basis in central Illinois was 
extremely weak in the pre-harvest and early harvest period, with cash
bids on September 20 averaging about $.50 under December futures. The 
weak basis pattern was widespread throughout the midwest. On October
26, the average central Illinois cash bid was $.25 under December
futures, very close to a "normal" level. 

Higher futures prices and a stronger basis have developed in spite of
an extremely large crop, the need for corn to be stored in temporary
facilities, and high transportation costs. The strength reflects a
continuation of strong export demand, higher energy costs, concerns
about U.S. acreage in 2008, and a slow down in the rate of farmer
selling of the newly harvested crop. In addition, storage shortages 
may not have been as severe as generally expected. In Illinois, for 
example, the fall supply of crops (September 1 stocks plus 2007 
production) totaled about three billion bushels. If storage capacity 
in 2007 was added at the same rate as in 2006, total capacity was 
about 350 million bushels less than the fall crop supply. That
compares to the storage deficit of about 380 million bushels in 2004.
Nationally, storage capacity was surplus by about 400 million 
bushels, assuming storage capacity was added in 2007 at the same rate
as in 2006. 

The pace of U.S. corn exports during the first eight weeks of the
2007-08 marketing year has been similar to that of a year ago.
Cumulative export inspections through October 25 totaled 345 million
bushels, compared to 344 million during the first eight weeks of the
2006-07 marketing year. However, unshipped export sales as of October
28 were reported at 765 million bushels, compared to sales of only 
425 million of a year ago. The demand for U.S. corn is being
supported by less competition from Chinese corn, smaller world 
supplies of feed wheat, and a generally weak U.S. dollar. Exports are
expected to remain strong through the winter months, although the 
recent pace of sales, averaging 69 million bushels per week from 
September 12 through October 18, cannot be sustained. In addition, a 
rebound in world wheat production would soften the demand for U.S. 
corn next summer. 

Higher energy prices, particularly crude oil prices, have raised
expectations about ethanol demand and prices. The average price of
ethanol at Iowa plants was well over $2.00 per gallon in the spring 
of 2007, but declined to about $1.50 in late September and early 
October. The low ethanol price, along with the recent increase in 
corn prices, pushed ethanol crush margins to very low levels. Using 
total estimated cost of production, margins were negative for some 
producers. Ethanol prices have increased about $.10 per gallon over
the past 10 days. Further increases would keep operating margins for 
existing plants well in the black, supporting the domestic demand
for corn. 

Concerns that corn acreage could decline in the U.S. in 2008 stem 
from the rising costs of corn production, high soybean prices, and
ideas that winter wheat acreage has been increased. At this juncture, 
it is not clear how many acres of corn are needed in 2008. That 
calculation is a function of expectations about average yield, the 
level of year ending stocks of the 2007 crop, and expectations about 
the size of the U.S. corn market in 2008-09. However, with December 
corn futures well over $4.00 per bushel, corn production in much of
the midwest is potentially more profitable than soybean production at
the current level of 2008-09 marketing year soybean prices. 

If basis levels continue at more normal levels during the remainder 
of the marketing year, the market is currently offering about $.35 
per bushel, in the form of basis improvement, to store corn into the
spring of 2008. Stored corn that is hedged or sold on a hedged-to-
arrive contract, will likely continue to earn a positive net return.
Opportunities to price more of the 2007 crop may develop over the
next few weeks. December 2007 futures above $3.90, however, might
require some new fundamental information. On the supply side, the new
USDA production forecast to be released on November 9 will be 
important. 

Issued by Darrel Good, Extension Economist, Dept. Of Agricultural &
Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 November 4, 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      67  28   45  -4   0.00    0     
Francesville     64  28   45  -2   0.00    0     
Valparaiso_AP_I  64  26   47  +0   0.00    0     
Wanatah          65  22   44  -3   0.00    0    51
Winamac          64  28   45  -1   0.00    0    47
North Central(2)                                 
Plymouth         64  27   45  -3   0.00    0     
South_Bend       63  28   47  +1   0.00    0     
Young_America    66  29   46  -1   0.00    0     
Northeast (3)                                    
Columbia_City    57  29   44  -2   0.00    0    49
Fort_Wayne       65  28   46  -2   0.00    0     
West Central(4)                                  
Greencastle      68  26   44  -6   0.00    0     
Perrysville      68  25   47  -2   0.00    0    51
Spencer_Ag       67  29   46  -3   0.00    0     
Terre_Haute_AFB  68  27   47  -3   0.00    0     
W_Lafayette_6NW  66  25   44  -3   0.00    0    51
Central (5)                                      
Eagle_Creek_AP   67  32   48  -2   0.00    0     
Greenfield       67  30   45  -4   0.02    1     
Indianapolis_AP  68  33   48  +0   0.00    0     
Indianapolis_SE  66  29   45  -4   0.00    0     
Tipton_Ag        66  30   46  +0   0.00    0    49
East Central(6)                                  
Farmland         66  24   44  -3   0.00    0    48
New_Castle       66  29   45  -3   0.00    0     
Southwest (7)                                    
Evansville       71  33   50  -2   0.00    0     
Freelandville    69  34   48  -2   0.00    0     
Shoals           70  26   45  -5   0.00    0     
Stendal          71  32   51  +1   0.00    0     
Vincennes_5NE    71  31   49  -1   0.00    0    54
South Central(8)                                 
Leavenworth      68  31   48  -3   0.00    0     
Oolitic          67  27   46  -3   0.00    0    49
Tell_City        71  36   51  -1   0.00    0     
Southeast (9)                                    
Brookville       69  28   47  -1   0.00    0     
Greensburg       66  31   47  -2   0.00    0     
Scottsburg       69  26   46  -4   0.00    0      
----------------------------------------------------

       Weather Information Table (Continued)

        Week ending Sunday November 4, 2007  
------------------------------------------------
                        Accumulation           
                --------------------------------
                      April 1, 2007 thru       
 Station               November 4, 2007     
                 --------------------------------
                  Precipitation   |GDD Base 50oF
                 --------------------------------
                       |     |    |     |
                 Total | DFN |Days|Total|  DFN   
-------------------------------------------------
Northwest (1)   | 
Chalmers_5W     |23.84  -1.19   61  3534  +315
Francesville    |28.65  +3.16   69  3374  +438
Valparaiso_AP_I |20.80  -6.86   56  3532  +587
Wanatah         |27.04  +0.62   72  3211  +421
Winamac         |27.73  +2.24   73  3434  +498
North Central(2)|
Plymouth        |33.06  +6.73   83  3329  +234
South_Bend      |27.59  +1.85   67  3596  +696
Young_America   |21.47  -3.40   67  3610  +578
Northeast (3)   |
Columbia_City   |20.60  -4.21   76  3310  +546
Fort_Wayne      |23.60  +0.86   72  3636  +588
West Central(4) |
Greencastle     |23.55  -5.03   58  3572  +110
Perrysville     |21.43  -5.12   61  3948  +741
Spencer_Ag      |28.53  -0.01   60  3760  +532
Terre_Haute_AFB |25.42  -1.49   58  3986  +551
W_Lafayette_6NW |25.21  +0.04   70  3656  +623
Central (5)     |
Eagle_Creek_AP  |19.08  -6.12   64  4188  +789
Greenfield      |19.78  -7.87   78  3792  +528
Indianapolis_AP |17.45  -7.75   61  4287  +888
Indianapolis_SE |21.91  -3.99   64  3784  +392
Tipton_Ag       |21.47  -4.56   78  3560  +628
East Central(6) | 
Farmland        |22.60  -2.18   70  3429  +571
New_Castle      |21.77  -4.81   55  3517  +586
Southwest (7)   |
Evansville      |18.88  -6.81   55  4727  +762
Freelandville   |21.28  -5.38   58  4208  +656
Shoals          |22.09  -6.81   51  3952  +508
Stendal         |22.92  -5.59   60  4702  +983
Vincennes_5NE   |24.07  -2.59   61  4416  +864
South Central(8)|
Leavenworth     |25.11  -3.98   71  4310  +891
Oolitic         |20.65  -7.21   53  3909  +636
Tell_City       |28.10  -0.99   49  4649  +803
Southeast (9)   |
Brookville      |18.28  -8.44   48  4061  +964
Greensburg      |20.73  -6.16   60  4102  +922
Scottsburg      |25.16  -2.30   58  4130  +595   
------------------------------------------------------------------
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