News

Illinois planting progress continues to climb

The USDA says many Illinois farmers continued to make strong planting progress last week.

Jim Hedges, who farms in Shelby County, says his planting is nearly complete.

“We’ve got all of our corn and soybeans in, with the exception of a couple hundred acres that are going in after cover crops that we weren’t quite ready to do.”  He says, “When it warms up, we’ll get that done.”

The latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows 75 percent of Illinois soybeans were planted as of Sunday, compared to 67 percent last week, and 70 percent last year.  Soybeans emerged reached 58 percent with 62% in good condition. The USDA says 82 percent of corn has been planted, compared to 74 percent last week, and 78 percent last year; with 70 percent emerged and 67% in good to excellent condition.  Hedges tells Brownfield, “The early soybeans look fantastic, and the corn looks good.”  He says, “The growers who put corn in in early April, it looks fantastic.”

Sixty-two percent of winter wheat is rated good to excellent condition, with 72% headed. 

Sixty-nine percent of pastures are rated good to excellent condition, and 47% of alfalfa first cutting complete.