Indiana farmers double planted corn acreage in break from wet weather, but state still behind

Indiana farmers scrambled during a break in wet weather last week and managed to double the amount of acreage they've planted for corn, but experts say further strides are unlikely during this historically difficult season.

U.S. Department of Agriculture data released Monday shows that Indiana farmers planted 67% of farmland slated for corn as of Sunday. That's up from 31 percent of acres planted as of June 2, the state's lowest portion on record 22 weeks into planting. 

Despite the progress, the state is still behind most of the 17 other corn-producing states in terms of the percentage of planted corn acreage. North Carolina and Tennessee have managed to plant all of their corn acreage. Meanwhile, states like Michigan, Ohio and South Dakota have fallen behind Indiana.

More:Indiana is behind nearly every other state in corn planting. Billions are on the line.

And though Hoosier farmers have made significant progress, economists don't expect to see a huge jump in the percentage of planted corn acreage in next week's USDA update.

"I don't expect to see very many of those acres that are unplanted as of today to get planted," said Jim Mintert, a Purdue University agriculture economist. Mintert expects that farmers will take prevented planting claims — provisions in insurance policies that provide coverage to farmers when extreme weather conditions prevent expected plantings— on a large portion of the unplanted acreage. 

Corn, Indiana's No. 1 agricultural commodity, generates about $3.28 billion in sales annually. The ideal time to plant the crop is from about April 20 to May 25. Farmers who plant late risk a small yield due to less summer weather during which the crop can grow, early frost or other inclement weather. 

But the wet winter, followed by constant spring rainfall, has left farmers across the Corn Belt — the region extending from western Ohio to eastern Nebraska and northeast Kansas — struggling to get corn into the ground during the desired time frame. Corn fields have been unable to dry during short breaks in rainfall.

Only 22 percent of Indiana's planned corn acreage was in the ground at the close of the ideal planting period.

Poor weather and disrupted planting have impacted the price of corn futures, which has risen due to less supply. Corn futures finished 12 cents higher Tuesday, at $4.27. The USDA also predicted Tuesday that U.S. farmers will produce the lowest corn harvest in four years, yielding roughly 13.7 billion bushels this year because of weather-related planting delays across the Corn Belt. 

With fewer days to plant, Mintert said, he expects Indiana producers are deciding whether to continue planting corn for a few more days in hopes of increasing their yield or to stop and take prevented planting payments.

Northern Indiana farmers are more inclined to take the insurance payout, he said, adding that farmers in southern Indiana are more likely to plant for a couple of more days. He doesn't expect to see many farmers switching to soybeans. 

"Once you get pass the 15th of June in corn in Indiana, not very many people are going to plant corn," he said. "Our analysis would suggest that ... (farmers) might be better off by taking the prevented planting payment."

Call IndyStar reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @allyburris.