Inside INdiana Business is reporting that the latest data from USDA shows Indiana’s major grain crops are struggling in the field. As of Monday, the weekly condition rating shows 39 percent of the corn crop is good-to-excellent. According to USDA only two years in the past three decades have had a worse start – 1988 and 2012. During both of those years, drought conditions covered much of the Midwest, but this year heavy and persistent rainfall delayed spring planting.
Indiana corn is also way behind in its growing stage. Just ten percent of the states’ corn crop is tasseling. The five-year average is 44 percent at this time of the year. During this same week last year, 70 percent of corn had already tasseled. The tassel produces the pollen needed to pollinate the crop.
USDA says Indiana’s soybean crop is also struggling. Thirty-eight percent of the bean crop is rated as good to excellent. Only three years rated lower – 1988, 1996 and 2012.
The state of Indiana last week requested a disaster designation from the USDA for 88 counties. The request is due to losses caused by flooding and excessive rain this season.