News

IL planting progress jumps

Planting progress in Illinois took a jump last week.

Macon county farmer David Brown tells Brownfield…

“We’ve got maybe 20% of our beans planted.”  He says, “They went in extremely well.”

USDA’s weekly crop progress and condition report shows 11% of both corn and soybeans are planted.  Brown says a late week storm, that included tornado damage, shouldn’t keep him out of the fields long.

“Probably got 1/2 inch of rain with this strong storm front that came through.”  He says, “If it looks like it warms up a little bit, we’re gonna get after it on corn. But historically in this area some of the highest yields come from the last week of April, first week of May.”

Corn planting is 5% behind last year, and 1% ahead of the five-year average.  Soybeans are 1% behind last year, and 5% ahead of the five-year average.  One percent of both crops are reported as emerged.

Farmers found three and a half days suitable for fieldwork, and the rains have kept subsoil moistures charged with 21% of Illinois rated very short or short; the same as last week.  

Winter wheat headed reached 11 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 5 percent. Eighty three percent of winter wheat was rated good to excellent condition.