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Illinois planting creeps forward, concerns grow for some

Planting progress creeped forward for some Illinois farmers last week. 

Lucas Roney, who farms in Moultrie County, says he was not one of them.

“We’d get about a day away from being in good conditions to plant into and then we get another rain.”  He says, “Just enough to keep us out of the field.”

The USDA’s latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows 42% of corn and 39% of soybeans are planted.  Roney says this week’s rainy forecast has him concerned.

“Get a little bit more worried you get past the 15th of May and think most of the research shows that your corn and soybean yields are going to start taking a hit after that,” he says.

Corn planting is 39% behind last year, and 14% behind the five-year average.  Soybeans are 35% behind last year, and for the first time this year are behind the five-year average, now by 4%.  Corn is 25% emerged, while soybeans are 20%. 

Farmers found only 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork, and the rains have kept subsoil moistures charged with only 4% of Illinois rated very short or short.  

Winter wheat headed reached 83 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 52 percent. Seventy seven percent of winter wheat was rated good to excellent condition.