in-crop-weather State Indiana Crop Weather Week Ending Date September 25, 2005 Issue IN-CW3905 Agricultural Summary Heavy rains over the weekend will delay harvest activities for several days in some areas of the state, according to the Indiana Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Harvest of corn and soybeans made some progress earlier in the week with the best progress for corn being made in the southern region with about 28 percent of the acreage harvested. Soybean harvest is the furthest along in the northern region with about 15 percent harvested. Field Crops Report There were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Corn condition is rated 44 percent good to excellent compared with 81 percent last year at this time. Ninety-eight percent of the corn acreage has reached the dent stage compared with 98 percent for both last year and the average. Seventy-four percent of the corn is mature compared with 79 percent last year and 72 percent for the average. Thirteen percent of the corn has been harvested compared with 16 percent for last year and 13 percent for the average. Moisture content of harvested corn is averaging about 21 percent. Soybean condition is rated 53 percent good to excellent compared with 75 percent last year. Eighty-six percent of the soybean acreage is shedding leaves compared with 87 percent last year and 79 percent for the average. Thirteen percent of the soybean acreage has been harvested compared with 31 percent last year and 14 percent for the average. Moisture content of harvested soybeans is averaging about 13 percent. Six percent of the winter wheat acreage has been planted compared with 6 percent last year and 5 percent for the average. Tobacco harvest is 69 percent complete compared with 85 percent for both last year and the average. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Pasture condition is rated 2 percent excellent, 22 percent good, 47 percent fair, 20 percent poor and 9 percent very poor. Livestock are in mostly good condition. Crop Progress Table ----------------------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : 5-Year Crop : Week : Week : Year : Avg ----------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn in Dent 98 95 98 98 Corn Mature 74 59 79 72 Corn Harvested 13 7 16 13 Soybeans Shedding Lvs 86 71 87 79 Soybeans Mature 56 32 66 49 Soybeans Harvested 13 6 31 14 Tobacco Harvested 69 51 85 85 Winter Wheat Planted 6 3 6 5 Crop Condition Table ---------------------------------------------------------- : Very : : : : Excel- Crop : Poor : Poor : Fair : Good : lent ---------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn 5 14 37 39 5 Soybeans 4 10 33 45 8 Pasture 9 20 47 22 2 Soil Moisture & Days Suitable for Fieldwork Table -------------------------------------- : This : Last : Last : : Week : Week : Year : -------------------------------------- Percent Topsoil Very Short 3 9 14 Short 16 33 43 Adequate 67 56 43 Surplus 14 2 0 Subsoil Very Short 12 18 8 Short 31 35 28 Adequate 52 46 64 Surplus 5 1 0 Days Suitable 4.7 5.8 7.0 Contact information --Greg Preston, Director --Andy Higgins, Agricultural Statistician E-Mail Address: nass-in@nass.usda.gov http://www.nass.usda.gov/in/index.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Agricultural Comments And News S.L.A.M. THE 2005 CROP * Sanitation * Loading * Aeration * Monitoring The S.L.A.M. post-harvest IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategy is a systems approach to maximize grain quality. Its success depends on the proper selection of crop varieties, production and harvest practices, grain handling equipment, drying systems and storage management. S.L.A.M. represents four simple steps sanitation, loading, aeration, and monitoring. Grain storage never improves grain quality! Thus, it is the objective of S.L.A.M. to maintain maximum post-harvest quality by protecting stored grains and oil seeds from weather, rodents, insects, self-heating, molds, mycotoxins, and pesticide residues. In addition, minimizing the deterioration process prevents spoilage, quality discounts, storage costs, and thus maximizes the return on every bushel harvested, dried and stored. SANITATION Proactive Steps include removing vegetation and maintaining a weed-free facility; clean handling equipment (combines, trucks, wagons, conveyors) after harvest, remove all grain spills; clean storage structures after emptying; disinfect storages inside and out before refilling; clean grain before binning using screens, scalpers, or perforated auger tubes; seal unloading auger, auger tube opening, and side door openings before harvest; and establish a written sanitation schedule. Preventive Benefits include: The chance of mold and insect development is reduced; the need for grain protectants is avoided; broken grain, foreign material, weed seeds, and fines are kept out of the bin;, aeration effectiveness is improved; and sealed openings prevent insect entry and cold air loss. LOADING Proactive Steps include expanding the use of combination and slow drying methods; minimize grain transfer operations by optimizing handling and storage systems; operate augers and elevators at capacity and slowest possible speeds; only store grain in aerated structures (bins, silos, tanks, flats); use a spreader to fill the bin; core the fines from the center of the grain; level peaked grain soon after harvest; record grain moistures going into storage; and screen for mycotoxins. Preventive Benefits include reduced stress cracks and brittleness from overdrying of grain; airflow through clean grain is higher and more uniform; clean grain has a greater storability; and lower quality grain is identified and can be scheduled for earlier unloading. AERATION Proactive Steps include cooling dried grain uniformly to 30 - 35øF by mid-December; move cooling front completely through and out of the grain mass; maintain low grain temperatures as long as possible during storage; avoid rewarming of dry grain with fans during the spring and summer; run your fans judiciously, or install automatic fan controllers to help you; install adequate exhaust vents and avoid condensation on inside walls and roof; and seal fans when off to prevent early warm-up. Preventive Benefits include longer storage life with cool grain; non-uniform moistures from high-temperature drying are equalized; savings in grain damage, moisture losses, residual pesticides, and fumigation expenses result; and adequate exhausting from the headspace minimizes condensation and maximizes airflow. MONITORING Proactive Steps include probing top grain layer with a thermometer to make sure cooling front has exited; install a temperature monitoring system; acquire and use grain sampling equipment (triers, probes, traps, sieves; check stored grain regularly for temperature, moisture, insects and molds; check binned grain every 3 - 4 weeks during cold months; check binned grain every 1 - 2 weeks during warm months; repair leaky roofs, seals, joints and holes; and never enter bin with flowing grain, or after partial unloading. Preventive Benefits include temperature changes and moisture migration (damp grain) are detected early; heat generated (hot spots) by insect and mold activity can be counteracted early; wetting due to rain or snow entering the storage is avoided; peace of mind; and safety! Linda Mason, Department of Entomology, Purdue University. 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 B105, 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 B105, West Lafayette IN 47906-4145. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table Week ending Sunday September 25, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------- | Past Week Weather Summary Data |--------------------------------- Station | Air | | Avg | Temperature | Precip. |4 in. |---------------|------------|Soil |Hi |Lo |Avg|DFN| Total|Days |Temp ----------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W |91 53 70 +7 2.55 3 Valparaiso_AP_I |91 52 70 +8 0.32 3 Wanatah |88 49 69 +8 0.41 5 72 Wheatfield |90 55 70 +9 1.36 6 Winamac |89 53 70 +8 0.48 4 66 North Central(2)| Plymouth |89 51 69 +6 1.10 2 South_Bend |88 53 70 +9 0.42 3 Young_America |91 54 71 +8 2.29 3 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City |89 52 69 +8 0.87 3 68 Fort_Wayne |89 51 70 +8 0.93 4 West Central(4) | Greencastle |89 54 71 +7 1.97 3 Perrysville |94 55 73 +10 1.35 4 71 Spencer_Ag |91 56 72 +9 1.65 4 Terre_Haute_AFB |91 57 73 +9 1.18 3 W_Lafayette_6NW |92 52 71 +8 1.50 4 73 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP |87 57 72 +8 1.43 4 Greenfield |86 57 70 +7 1.29 3 Indianapolis_AP |87 60 73 +9 1.81 3 Indianapolis_SE |86 57 71 +7 1.37 3 Tipton_Ag |89 51 69 +8 1.16 3 72 East Central(6) | Farmland |86 54 69 +7 1.21 3 65 New_Castle |87 52 70 +8 0.72 2 Southwest (7) | Evansville |91 59 76 +10 0.83 2 Freelandville |90 54 73 +8 2.88 3 Shoals |90 55 74 +9 1.63 3 Stendal |90 55 76 +10 1.43 2 Vincennes_5NE |93 55 75 +11 1.61 3 74 South Central(8)| Leavenworth |90 56 73 +9 1.19 2 Oolitic |88 55 72 +9 2.19 2 74 Tell_City |91 56 75 +8 1.23 2 Southeast (9) | Brookville |88 53 72 +9 0.90 1 Milan_5NE |87 56 71 +9 1.24 3 Scottsburg |89 54 72 +8 1.32 2 ---------------------------------------------------- Weather Information Table (Continued) Week ending Sunday September 25, 2005 ------------------------------------------------ Accumulation -------------------------------- April 1, 2005 thru Station September 25, 2005 -------------------------------- Precipitation |GDD Base 50oF -------------------------------- | | | | Total | DFN |Days|Total| DFN ------------------------------------------------- Northwest (1) | Chalmers_5W |18.02 -3.65 55 3290 +319 Valparaiso_AP_I |14.64 -8.77 49 3111 +398 Wanatah |15.70 -6.95 61 2986 +395 Wheatfield |21.66 -0.33 103 3150 +501 Winamac |18.55 -3.35 62 3175 +447 North Central(2)| Plymouth |15.70 -6.63 59 3067 +198 South_Bend |11.73 -9.97 57 3200 +509 Young_America |20.68 -0.51 55 3166 +345 Northeast (3) | Columbia_City |16.65 -4.62 60 2992 +424 Fort_Wayne |15.04 -4.46 59 3158 +339 West Central(4) | Greencastle |26.99 +2.40 53 3164 -15 Perrysville |19.31 -3.81 57 3416 +458 Spencer_Ag |27.14 +2.37 61 3245 +260 Terre_Haute_AFB |19.59 -3.66 55 3478 +323 W_Lafayette_6NW |14.49 -7.17 59 3243 +437 Central (5) | Eagle_Creek_AP |19.72 -2.00 59 3506 +378 Greenfield |29.68 +5.92 71 3248 +239 Indianapolis_AP |20.45 -1.27 58 3550 +422 Indianapolis_SE |22.47 +0.28 59 3271 +150 Tipton_Ag |21.77 -0.24 61 3019 +298 East Central(6) | Farmland |21.63 +0.19 58 3040 +382 New_Castle |24.22 +1.50 53 2923 +199 Southwest (7) | Evansville |21.18 -0.73 53 3854 +230 Freelandville |23.25 +0.44 57 3610 +351 Shoals |24.26 -0.39 68 3607 +446 Stendal |23.87 -0.67 53 3836 +418 Vincennes_5NE |27.23 +4.42 60 3759 +500 South Central(8)| Leavenworth |23.60 -1.34 57 3664 +524 Oolitic |23.15 -0.44 60 3350 +330 Tell_City |23.20 -1.93 45 3997 +497 Southeast (9) | Brookville |21.73 -1.15 56 3421 +553 Milan_5NE |24.78 +1.90 86 3350 +482 Scottsburg |23.96 +0.47 65 3525 +278 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 2005: 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