in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date November 7, 2004 Issue IN-CW4504 Agricultural Summary Rain along with wet soil conditions kept farmers out of their fields during most of the week. Harvesting of corn and soybeans resumed in some areas late in the week and during the weekend, according to Indiana Agricultural Statistics. Planting of winter wheat has been delayed on some farms, especially in the southwestern region. The large corn and soybean crop has created delays in drying, storage and hauling to local elevators. Lodging of corn plants is evident in many fields. Corn harvest is on par with the average pace. Soybean harvest is now behind both last year and the average pace. Farmers continued to visit their local FSA offices. Field Crops Report There were 2.9 days suitable for fieldwork. Eighty-six percent of the corn acreage is harvested compared with 79 percent last year and 86 percent for the average. By area, 81 percent of the corn acreage is harvested in the north, 90 percent in the central region and 89 percent in the south. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 17 percent. Ninety-three percent of the soybean acreage is harvested compared with 96 percent last year and 96 percent for the average. By area, 94 percent of the soybean acreage is harvested in the north, 97 percent in the central region and 83 percent in the south. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 12.5 percent. Eighty-eight percent of the winter wheat acreage is planted compared with 98 percent last year and 97 percent for the average pace. By area, 99 percent of the winter wheat acreage is planted in the north, 93 percent in the central region and 77 percent in the south. Seventy-nine percent of the winter wheat acreage is emerged compared with 85 percent last year and 84 percent for the average pace. Other activities during the week were spreading fertilizer and lime, chopping corn stalks, moving grain to market, fall tillage, cleaning fence rows, tiling fields, cleaning up and repairing equipment, stripping tobacco, hauling manure and taking care of livestock. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Pastures continue to improve, helped by the recent rains. Livestock are in mostly good condition. Feeding of hay has started on a few livestock farms. Marketing of feeder calves is taking place. Crop Progress Table ----------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg ----------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Harvested 86 80 79 86 Soybeans Harvested 93 90 96 96 Winter Wheat Planted 88 82 98 97 Winter Wheat Emerged 79 62 85 84 Crop Condition Table ----------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent ----------------------------------------------------- Percent Winter Wheat 1 3 24 57 15 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table -------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : : Week : Week : Year : -------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 0 1 0 Short 2 6 5 Adequate 71 73 86 Surplus 27 20 9 Subsoil Very Short 1 2 3 Short 10 20 9 Adequate 79 72 82 Surplus 10 6 6 Days Suitable 2.9 3.5 5.2 Contact information --Greg Preston, Director --Bud Bever, Agricultural Statistician E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/index.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ECONOMIST: WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES, FARMERS CREATE OWN BREAKS WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Farmers can't control the weather or the prices they receive for their crops, but they can exert a strong influence over what they owe Uncle Sam at tax time. Tax laws allow agricultural producers the same deductions that small businesses enjoy, with a few added benefits, said George Patrick, a Purdue University agricultural economist and tax specialist. "A farmer who has made capital investments has the ability to write off a tremendous amount of that investment in the year of purchase," Patrick said. "But the way our tax laws are set up with the standard deduction and the personal exemptions - if you've got children under the age of 17, there's a tax credit - you're probably better off taking advantage of those as much as you can. You should not, however, take your taxable income down so low that you don't get those tax benefits. "As a producer, you need to look at what will minimize your taxes over time. Or, as I prefer to look at it, what's going to maximize your wealth after you pay taxes." Understanding new tax laws and regulations and taking full advantage of what the federal tax code permits is a central theme of the annual Purdue Income Tax School and Agricultural Tax Workshops. The meetings take place at various locations across Indiana in November and December. A recent change in the tax code raised the amount farmers can deduct for certain farm-related purchases. In some cases, producers can avoid paying tax altogether - at least for the current tax year. "This is the last year that an additional first-year depreciation will be available, where an individual can deduct up to 50 percent of the cost of something new that they've purchased," Patrick said. "Also, Congress has extended the Section 179 expensing allowance through 2007, which allows a farmer or businessperson to write off a purchase of up to $100,000 in the year the purchase is made." Because farmers often sell grain months after crops are harvested, their income can fluctuate from year to year, Patrick said. Such fluctuations have tax ramifications. "The thing we need to remember is that most farmers use a cash method of accounting, so it's when they buy and sell things that determines their income," he said. "If farmers delayed making sales from the 2003 crop until they got some of those high prices back in the late spring and early summer, they may have a tremendous taxable income. They will need to do some year-end tax planning to, maybe, buy some inputs for the 2005 season to manage that taxable income. "It's going to be important for every farmer to see where they stand financially and run the year- to-date numbers on income and expenses." The Purdue Income Tax School addresses those issues, as well as tax laws in general. The two- day schools are geared toward professional tax preparers. Speakers include Patrick, Internal Revenue Service specialists, Indiana Department of Revenue representatives and certified public accountants, among others. The school schedule includes: * Nov. 3-4 - Hulman Memorial Student Union, Indiana State University, Terre Haute. * Nov. 15-16 - Walb Union Building, Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne; and Horizon Convention Center, Muncie. * Nov. 18-19 - Century Center, South Bend; and the Union Building, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso. * Nov. 22-23 - Stewart Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette; and Marriott Hotel, 7202 E. 21st St., Indianapolis. * Nov. 29-30 - American Legion Post No. 89, Seymour; and Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, Evansville. * Dec. 2-3 - Adam's Mark Hotel, 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis; and Johanning Civic Center, Kokomo. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with programs running from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All times are local. The registration fee is $279 and includes the 2004 National Income Tax School Workbook. Registration can be completed online at: http://ww.conf.purdue.edu/tax or at (800) 359-2968. The Purdue Agricultural Tax Workshops provide in-depth discussion of farm-related tax issues, including deductions, self-employment taxes, government payments, conservation and cost sharing. The half-day programs are appropriate for tax preparers and farm managers. Trenna Grabowski, a certified public accountant and a contributor to Farm Progress Publications, will lead the workshops. Workshops will take place Nov. 8 at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, Evansville; Nov. 9 at Adam's Mark Hotel, 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis; and Nov. 10 at Ramada Inn, 2519 E. Center St., Warsaw. Registration begins at 8 a.m. local time, with workshops slated from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is $135, or $85 for those also attending the tax school. Online and phone registrations can be made through the Web address and toll-free number listed above. For additional information about the tax school or workshops, contact Patrick at (765) 494-4241, gpatrick@purdue.edu. Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu Source: George Patrick, (765) 494-4241, gpatrick@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page at: http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/ public/agnews/ RELATED WEB SITE: Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics at: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu For the News Service home page, go to: http://www.news.uns.purdue.edu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table Week ending Sunday November 7, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|------------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN|Total |Days |Temp ----------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W |65 34 48 +2 1.93 5 49 Valparaiso_AP_I |63 34 47 +2 1.95 4 Wanatah |65 31 46 +2 2.35 4 50 Wheatfield |66 32 47 +3 1.87 4 Winamac |64 31 47 +3 1.51 4 46 North Central(2)| Plymouth |64 33 46 +2 1.44 4 South_Bend |63 34 47 +2 1.84 4 Young_America |64 33 48 +4 1.27 3 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City |61 32 47 +3 1.20 5 47 Fort_Wayne |63 35 49 +4 0.74 4 West Central (4)| Greencastle |67 32 50 +4 1.74 5 Perrysville |67 32 51 +6 1.65 3 56 Spencer_Ag |69 35 52 +6 1.68 4 Terre_Haute_AFB |69 36 53 +6 1.74 4 W_Lafayette_6NW |65 33 48 +3 1.41 3 55 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP |66 36 53 +7 1.60 3 Greenfield |67 35 50 +5 1.84 4 Indianapolis_AP |66 33 53 +6 1.74 4 Indianapolis_SE |65 35 51 +4 1.73 3 Tipton_Ag |66 31 49 +5 0.84 3 53 East Central (6)| Farmland |65 34 50 +5 1.56 5 45 New_Castle |63 32 48 +4 1.68 4 Southwest (7) | Evansville |77 39 57 +8 1.74 4 Freelandville |73 36 53 +6 1.54 4 Shoals |74 34 54 +7 1.82 4 Stendal |78 37 56 +8 2.06 4 Vincennes_5NE |72 36 53 +5 1.80 4 55 South Central(8)| Leavenworth |73 37 54 +6 2.94 4 Oolitic |73 35 53 +7 1.71 5 55 Tell_City |78 42 57 +8 2.74 4 Southeast (9) | Brookville |67 37 53 +8 0.79 3 Milan_5NE |67 36 52 +7 1.42 4 Scottsburg |72 37 54 +6 1.91 4 ----------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table (Continued) Week ending Sunday November 7, 2004 ----------------|-------------------------------- | Accumulation |-------------------------------- | April 1, 2004 thru Station | November 7, 2004 |-------------------------------- | Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF |-------------------------------- | | | | | |Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W | 34.69 +9.41 75 3097 -124 Valparaiso_AP_I | 24.63 -3.35 77 2916 -32 Wanatah | 26.93 +0.23 85 2661 -132 Wheatfield | 41.47 +15.91 83 2810 -37 Winamac | 33.31 +7.53 91 2952 +13 North Central(2)| Plymouth | 30.35 +3.74 87 2822 -276 South_Bend | 26.14 +0.08 86 3023 +120 Young_America | 31.24 +6.06 77 3096 +61 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City | 27.80 +2.70 90 2819 +51 Fort_Wayne | 28.14 +5.15 84 3087 +36 West Central (4)| Greencastle | 28.90 -0.02 83 3055 -411 Perrysville | 26.74 -0.09 69 3375 +165 Spencer_Ag | 34.06 +5.19 87 3304 +74 Terre_Haute_AFB | 25.44 -1.79 77 3629 +190 W_Lafayette_6NW | 27.43 +1.99 63 3057 +21 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP | 24.94 -0.53 80 3532 +130 Greenfield | 28.39 +0.42 80 3277 +10 Indianapolis_AP | 33.17 +7.70 77 3645 +243 Indianapolis_SE | 27.32 +1.09 68 3331 -64 Tipton_Ag | 27.23 +0.88 82 2986 +51 East Central (6)| Farmland | 25.96 +0.89 79 3016 +155 New_Castle | 27.19 +0.29 61 2688 -246 Southwest (7) | Evansville | 29.09 +3.07 70 4190 +220 Freelandville | 33.11 +6.13 73 3677 +121 Shoals | 35.63 +6.35 76 3693 +244 Stendal | 34.07 +5.20 72 3972 +248 Vincennes_5NE | 33.51 +6.53 85 3825 +269 South Central(8)| Leavenworth | 41.54 +12.07 84 3744 +320 Oolitic | 35.48 +7.28 87 3486 +210 Tell_City | 38.71 +9.27 71 4286 +434 Southeast (9) | Brookville | 24.45 -2.58 69 3516 +416 Milan_5NE | 33.92 +6.89 108 3421 +321 Scottsburg | 41.87 +14.09 77 3556 +17 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 2004: 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.