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Planting off to a slow start in many states

Corn planting progress is running behind in many states, especially when compared to last year.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says Illinois and Missouri, in particular, are off to slower-than-normal starts.

“We see Illinois with six percent of the corn planted as of April 16th.  That’s behind the five-year average of 13 percent and last year’s 11 percent,” Rippey says. “A similar picture in Missouri—17 percent planted, five-year average of 25 percent, but last year much quicker at 53 percent.”

Nationwide six percent of the corn crop was planted as of Sunday, down from the five-year average of nine percent.

The delays are due to excess moisture across many parts of the Corn Belt.