Several weeks ago, Indiana received enough rain to eliminate drought across the state, leaving behind just a few counties in Abnormally Dry (D0) status. Fortunately, this week has been relatively quiet, allowing many areas to alleviate flooding issues. The U.S. Drought Monitor kept those Abnormally Dry areas nearly the same this week (Figure 1), so how might things change? Will this recent dry period re-introduce Moderate Drought (D1) and/or expand those Abnormally Dry areas? Or will more rain keep Indiana in a more normal situation where precipitation passes through every few days, separated by typical Midwest hot and humid conditions? First, it is important to review what has been happening across our state. Over the past two weeks, Figure 2 shows that most of Indiana has receive above-normal precipitation except for southeastern and southern Indiana. However, even those locations are within one inch of normal amounts (based on the 1991-2020[Read More…]
7 articles tagged "indiana".
Indiana has been receiving less precipitation than normal, particularly over the last 30 days (Figure 1).
Last week was marked by cooler temperatures and lots of rain.
Over the last 30 days (April 3 – May 2), average temperatures ran below normal for most of the state (Figure 1).
Wheat in Indiana is starting to head out in southern Indiana and flowering will probably start this weekend.
Sulfur (S) deficiency is becoming more common in Indiana crops because, in part, S deposition from coal-fired power plants has been reduced.
It is important to continue to scout for diseases in both corn and soybeans. Recent rains have created favorable environmental conditions for the development of foliar diseases in both crops. In our scouting rounds this week we continue to find gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and tar spot in corn (Figure 1 and 3), and frogeye leaf spot, downy mildew and Septoria brown spot in soybean (Figure 2). In addition, we continue to add counties with active tar spot and southern rust in Indiana. The most frequent question I have received is, “Should we make a fungicide application?” My response – What diseases are you finding in your field? What is your hybrid/variety susceptibility and field history? What growth stage? Are you irrigating? A fungicide application can be effective at reducing disease and protecting yield, but there are a number of factors that need to consider: the field[Read More…]