(UNDATED) — Agricultural officials say this year’s Indiana corn crop is expected to be among lowest quality in three decades following planting delays caused by excessive spring rainfall.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, says the agency expects Indiana’s 2019 corn to be the fifth-lowest in quality since 1986.
Monday’s report from the agency rates just 38 percent of Indiana’s corn crop as currently of good to excellent quality. The report shows just 1% of the corn crop in Indiana is silking.
That comes after heavy spring rains significantly delayed the planting of corn and soybeans, likely lowering crop yields.
The soybean crop is also extremely behind its normal pace. In a typical year, 32% of the nation’s soybeans are blooming at this point in the season. This year, just 10% of the crop is at blooming—a far cry from last year’s 44% at this time.
In Indiana, just 1% of the soybeans is blooming, compared to the historical average of 32%.