News

IL planting progress jumps

Illinois farmers made more planting progress gains last week.

Livingston County farmer Jason Birkenbeil, who finished planting just after Mother’s Day, tells Brownfield…

“Got things wrapped up.”  He says, “Now we’re just doing a little bit of a little spot planting here and there where the water sat.  Things are starting to grow and green, and things are looking good actually.”

The USDA’s latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows corn planting is now 80% complete, while soybeans are 72%.  Birkenbeil says he’ll still need some windows for fieldwork.

“Let her grow here up till, I don’t know, V-3 or V-4 and then start running some side dress.”  He says, “So we’ll run side dress for a few days, and then have to probably sit until we get the other stuff caught up to where we can get in there and get that side dressed.”

Corn planting is 14% behind last year, and now 1% ahead of the five-year average.  Soybeans are 18% behind last year but are 7% ahead of the five-year average.  Corn is 65% emerged, while soybeans are 44%. 

Farmers found 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork, and the frequent rains have led to 32% of topsoil moisture rated surplus.  

Winter wheat headed reached 93 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 85 percent. Sixty three percent of winter wheat is now rated good to excellent condition, down seven percent from last week.