Sampling supplies are going out for first round of crop scouting 

By Scott Gabbard, Purdue On The Farm Senior Administrator 

One would think that after decades of farm and outdoor work, spring fever would abate. It doesn’t. There is just something about warm sunshine, a brisk breeze, and the smell of damp soil that fills the soul with the hope and promise of a new cropping year. 

This year is no different. Sampling supplies are going out and training for the first round of crop scouting has been set. We have anticipatory planting, cotyledons poking, or sidedress applications all at the same time in various parts of the state – or even the same county. 

There is a lot of corn and soybeans already in the ground and a lot of it is popping up. You can read more about this year’s rate of planting program on The Kernel (https://purdue.ag/thekernel). 

We have had our first 2026 twist with the rapid planting rate followed by cool weather and storms. Some have already mitigated drowned fields and two cold snaps. It is typical in the fact it is atypical. 

At time of writing, recent rains have washed away the lingering drought a portion of the state endured all winter as indicated on the U.S. Drought monitor. Still, the southwestern portion of the state is abnormally dry. Recent rains hopefully took care of this and the drought map just hasn’t caught up, yet. 

The Purdue On The Farm team will again be out monitoring with a special thanks to the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance checkoff dollars. We also have on-farm research projects scattered throughout the state looking at seeding rates, nitrogen rates and other farmer-requested small studies tailored to their farming needs. 

Utilizing Purdue Extension field personnel, this pushes Purdue research projects further throughout the state. It’s a win-win-win, farmers get direct access to Purdue on-farm research, the educators build stronger relationships with row-crop farmers in their communities and faculty benefit from additional farm data-points. 

Thanks to Dr. Megan Bourns’ tracking, faculty participation and educator encouragement, we have about 32 trials sprinkled throughout the state. This does not include the crop survey work conducted nor faculty-led assessments and trapping. 

This farmer-partner involvement gives Purdue broader access for assessment, modeling and tracking throughout the growing season to the benefit of Hoosier row-crop farmers and the industries that serve them. 

Since last year, investments have been made to share the story. Plans are in place to more closely monitor and share insights straight from the field on our social platforms of LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Twitter), FaceBook and YouTube. You can find all of those links on our homepage at https://purdue.ag/onthefarm. 

Spring fever; it happens every year. It is often cured by June when the heat and humidity creep into the mix. Here’s to a safe and productive 2026.