News

Cooler, wet weather stalls IL planting

Illinois farmers made very little progress in the fields last week.

The USDA’s weekly crop progress and condition report shows two percent of both corn and soybeans have been planted in the state, only one percent more than last week. 

Farmers only had 1.9 days suitable for fieldwork as statewide precipitation averaged 1.96 inches for the week ending April 7th, and the temperature averaged 46 degrees, or 1.4 degrees below normal.  The precipitation improved topsoil moisture supply as now only 13 percent of the state is rated short or very short compared to 38 percent last week.  Twenty seven percent of the state is rated short or very short on subsoil moisture.

The winter wheat crop has reached two percent headed, with 65 percent rated at good to excellent condition, which is on par with last year’s 64 percent rating at the same time.  Thirteen percent of the wheat crop is now rated in poor or very poor condition, which increased two percent over last week.