in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date June 14, 2009 IN-CW061409 AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY Farmers were making good progress with field work until more rain fell across the state mid-week, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Heavy rain showers left standing water in many crop fields around the state, which puts farmers further behind with planting, spraying, and side dressing corn with nitrogen. Producers in some central and southern areas have now begun taking preventive plantings on some acreage that was intended to be corn or are switching to soybeans. Excessive moisture is causing wheat condition to deteriorate in some areas with a limited number of disease problems being reported. Producers continue to try to finish the first cutting of hay without it getting wet. FIELD CROPS REPORT There were 3.2 days suitable for field work during the week. Ninety-seven percent of the intended corn acreage has been planted compared with 97 percent last year and 99 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 99 percent has been planted in the north, 98 percent in the central region, and 90 percent in the south. Eighty-eight percent of the corn crop has emerged compared with 92 percent last year and 97 percent for the 5-year average. Eighty-four percent of the intended soybean acreage has been planted compared with 79 percent last year and 93 percent for the 5-year average. By area, 92 percent has been planted in the north, 90 percent in the central region, and 60 percent in the south. Sixty-six percent of the soybean acreage has emerged compared with 67 percent last year and 85 percent for the 5-year average. Ninety-nine percent of the winter wheat is headed compared with 99 percent last year and 100 percent for the 5-year average. Winter wheat condition is rated 73 percent good to excellent compared with 72 percent last year at this time. LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE REPORT Pasture condition is rated 79 percent good to excellent. Livestock remain in mostly good condition. Crop Progress Table ------------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg ------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Planted 97 90 97 99 Corn Emerged 88 72 92 97 Soybeans Planted 84 69 79 93 Soybeans Emerged 66 42 67 85 Winter Wheat Headed 99 97 99 100 Alfalfa - 1st Cutting 77 64 65 80 Crop Condition Table ----------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent ----------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn 1 7 26 56 10 Soybean 1 6 27 56 10 Pasture 1 4 16 51 28 Winter Wheat 1 6 20 53 20 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table ---------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : : Week : Week : Year : ---------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 0 0 0 Short 1 3 2 Adequate 60 67 50 Surplus 39 30 48 Subsoil Very Short 0 0 0 Short 1 2 1 Adequate 69 72 53 Surplus 30 26 46 Days Suitable 3.2 3.9 2.8 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 PREVALENT PURPLE PLANTS POSSIBLY PUZZLE PRODUCERS As folks trickle back into the Chat ‘n Chew Café after several weeks of intensive planting efforts, conversations are beginning to drift toward the condition of the young crop. Some of the café’s regulars are reporting that whole fields have taken on noticeable shades of red and purple over the past week or so. Landlords and tenants alike are wondering what on earth is wrong with these fields. Purpling of corn plant tissue results from the formation of a reddish-purple anthocyanin pigments that occur in the form of water-soluble cyanidin glucosides or pelargonidin glucosides (Hak, 1998).  A hybrid’s genetic makeup greatly determines whether corn plants are able to produce anthocyanin.  A hybrid may have none, one, or many genes that can trigger production of anthocyanin.  Purpling can also appear in the silks, anthers and even coleoptile tips of a corn plant.  Well, you may say, that’s fine but what triggers the production of the anthocyanin in young corn at this time of year? The answer is not clearly understood, but most agree that these pigments develop in young plants in direct response to a number of stresses that limit the plants’ ability to fully utilize the photosynthates produced during the day. These stresses include cool night temperatures, root restrictions, and water stress (both waterlogged and droughty conditions). There’s no question that many cornfields throughout the state have suffered through wet soil conditions during the past several weeks. There’s no question that many cornfields throughout the state have suffered through wet soil conditions during the past several weeks. Furthermore, soil compaction (tillage- or planter-related) is more prevalent this year and that restricts the development of the initial root systems. The additional stresses imposed by recent relatively cool nights (upper 30's to low 40's) and several bright sunny days (high levels of visible and UV radiation) may be the final "triggers" that result in fields of pretty purple plants. Since the anthocyanin occurs in the form of a sugar-containing glucoside, the availability of high concentrations of sugar in the leaves (photosynthesis during bright, sunny days) further encourages the pigment formation. If fields are stressed by other factors such as soil compaction, herbicide injury, disease damage, or insect injury, the purpling becomes even more pronounced. It has been my experience that the combination of bright, sunny days and cool nights when corn ranges from V3 to V6 in development (3- to 6-leaf collar stages) most commonly results in plant purpling.  Hybrids with more anthocyanin-producing genes will purple more greatly than those with fewer “purpling” genes.  In most cases, the purpling will slowly disappear as temperatures warm and the plants transition into the rapid growth phase (post-V6). I have rarely diagnosed phosphorus deficiency as the primary cause of purple plants early in the season. Nonetheless, cold or wet soils inhibit root development and can aggravate a true phosphorus deficiency situation, frequently causing even more intense leaf purpling. What About Yield Losses? Does the leaf purpling lead to yield losses later on? The cause of leaf purpling, not the purpling itself, will determine whether yield loss will occur by harvest time. If the main cause is the combination of bright, sunny days and cool nights, then the purpling will disappear as the plants develop further with no effects on yield. If the stress of restricted root systems is a major contributor to the purpling, then the potential effects on yield depend on whether the root restriction is temporary (e.g., cool temperatures & wet soils) or more protracted (e.g., soil compaction, herbicide injury). Plants can recover from temporary root restrictions with little to no effect on yield.  If the root stress lingers longer, the purpling may continue for some time and some yield loss may result if the plants become stunted. RELATED REFERENCES Chalker-Scott, Linda. 1999. Environmental Significance of Anthocyanins in Plant Stress Responses. Photochemistry and Photobiology 70(1): 1-9. Christie, P.J., Alfenito, M.R., and Walbot, V. (1994). lmpact of low- temperature stress on general phenylpropanoid and anthocyanin pathways: Enhancement of transcript abundance and anthocyanin pigmentation in maize seedlings. Planta 194: 541-549. Dixon, Richard A. and Nancy L. Paiva. 1995. Stress-lnduced Phenylpropanoid Metabolism. The Plant Cell 7:1085-1097. American Society of Plant Physiologists. [On-Line]. Available at http://www.plantcell.org/cgi/reprint/7/7/1085. [URL accessed 5/19/08]. Kim, Jae Hak. 1998. Maize Anthocyanin Pathway. Pennsylvania State Univ. [On-Line]. Available at http://scripts.cac.psu.edu/courses/ plphy/plphy597_hef1/mpath.html.  [URL accessed 5/19/08].  Editorial note: This link is for biochemistry fans! Updated May 2008 URL: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/PurpleCorn.html R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054 Email address: rnielsen at purdue.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. 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 June 14, 2009 ----------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|------------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp ----------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) Chalmers_5W 82 58 69 -3 0.79 2 Francesville 82 57 68 -1 2.20 3 Valparaiso_AP_I 83 54 66 -3 1.54 5 Wanatah 83 53 66 -3 1.45 6 70 Winamac 81 57 67 -2 1.77 6 North Central(2) Plymouth 81 55 66 -4 1.77 6 South_Bend 81 53 66 -3 3.19 6 Young_America 81 57 68 -1 2.57 3 Northeast (3) Fort_Wayne 83 57 68 -2 2.09 4 Kendallville 81 55 67 -2 1.32 6 West Central(4) Greencastle 80 55 69 -3 2.82 4 Perrysville 84 59 71 +1 1.38 6 69 Spencer_Ag 82 59 71 +2 2.82 6 Terre_Haute_AFB 83 60 72 +2 2.53 4 W_Lafayette_6NW 81 58 69 +1 1.34 5 75 Central (5) Eagle_Creek_AP 81 61 72 +1 3.03 5 Greenfield 82 59 70 -1 2.75 4 Indianapolis_AP 82 63 72 +2 3.93 5 Indianapolis_SE 81 58 69 -2 3.70 5 Tipton_Ag 83 57 70 +2 2.27 2 76 East Central(6) Farmland 83 56 70 +3 0.90 3 72 New_Castle 82 56 69 +1 1.81 3 Southwest (7) Evansville 90 63 76 +2 1.39 2 Freelandville 84 61 73 +2 1.05 3 Shoals_8S 85 55 71 +1 1.93 2 Stendal 88 63 75 +3 1.55 2 Vincennes_5NE 87 64 74 +3 2.37 4 South Central(8) Leavenworth 85 60 73 +3 1.74 4 Oolitic 82 55 71 +1 1.14 4 74 Tell_City 89 61 74 +2 1.27 1 Southeast (9) Brookville 87 59 72 +3 1.57 3 Greensburg 87 61 73 +4 2.56 5 Seymour 84 57 71 +1 0.57 4 ----------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table (Continued) Week ending Sunday June 14, 2009 ------------------------------------------------- | Accumulation |-------------------------------- | April 1, 2009 thru Station | June 14, 2009 |-------------------------------- | Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF |-------------------------------- | | | | | |Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W | 12.13 +2.79 32 663 -110 Francesville | 12.86 +3.73 29 637 -51 Valparaiso_AP_I | 10.17 +0.40 30 642 -14 Wanatah | 11.34 +2.12 33 563 -42 Winamac | 12.03 +2.90 39 649 -39 North Central(2)| Plymouth | 10.75 +1.17 40 594 -127 South_Bend | 10.93 +2.02 32 653 +18 Young_America | 14.19 +5.28 28 716 +26 Northeast (3) | Fort_Wayne | 11.16 +2.67 34 710 +40 Kendallville | 10.00 +1.15 36 689 +55 West Central(4) | Greencastle | 18.49 +8.33 36 705 -128 Perrysville | 15.48 +5.61 35 813 +59 Spencer_Ag | 17.63 +6.94 38 782 +28 Terre_Haute_AFB | 14.88 +4.90 32 928 +102 W_Lafayette_6NW | 15.94 +6.66 36 756 +59 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP | 16.60 +7.32 34 873 +57 Greenfield | 18.86 +9.00 35 749 -8 Indianapolis_AP | 18.83 +9.55 32 922 +106 Indianapolis_SE | 21.75 +12.12 37 760 -31 Tipton_Ag | 17.84 +8.55 36 695 +40 East Central(6) | Farmland | 12.61 +3.33 38 707 +76 New_Castle | 13.35 +3.02 30 698 +49 Southwest (7) | Evansville | 14.56 +4.11 33 1107 +90 Freelandville | 16.81 +6.12 35 914 +48 Shoals_8S | 18.32 +7.03 33 823 -7 Stendal | 20.39 +8.73 32 1097 +165 Vincennes_5NE | 18.66 +7.97 36 966 +100 South Central(8)| Leavenworth | 14.75 +3.41 42 931 +96 Oolitic | 14.38 +3.69 37 827 +54 Tell_City | 13.89 +2.37 31 1021 +72 Southeast (9) | Brookville | 11.08 +0.89 32 874 +176 Greensburg | 15.90 +5.31 35 916 +156 Seymour | 13.65 +3.60 34 823 +30 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 2009: Agricultural Weather Information Service, Inc. All rights reserved. DFN = Departure From Normal 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. For more weather inrformation, visit www.awis.com or call 1-888-798-9955.