Spraying of chemicals and spreading of fertilizer also made good progress. Other activities during the week included hauling grain to market, spreading lime and hauling manure. Sixteen percent of the winter wheat acreage is jointed compared with 30 percent last year and 17 percent for the 5- year average. Winter wheat condition is rated 69 percent good to excellent compared with 73 percent a year ago at this time. Warm weather and rain improved pastures and forage crops last week.
Livestock are in mostly good condition.
Calving and lambing are active. In general, the 2000-01 Indiana wheat crop went into dormancy in good condition. The November and December temperatures were lower than normal, which resulted in very few fields with excessive top growth. In mid December, snow fall of 1 inch or more was recorded across the entire state and remained for about one month. This snow cover was sufficient to protect the wheat crop from the sub zero temperatures that occurred during the last two weeks of December.