Illinois farmers took advantage of warm, dry conditions across the state to continue planting, spraying, and cutting hay. Below normal precipitation allowed corn planting to reach 99 percent complete statewide. That’s 20 percentage points over the 5-year average.
Corn is 88 percent emerged, and is 79 percent good to excellent. Soybean planting is 80 percent complete. The 5-year average is just 37 percent. Some fields yet to be planted are too dry and are waiting for rain.
The first cutting of alfalfa is 68 percent done, compared to the 5-year average of 19 percent. Forty-five percent of the winter wheat is turning yellow and is 80 percent good to excellent. Topsoil moisture is 93 percent short to adequate.
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