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Planting progress right on schedule for Illinois farmer

Southeast Illinois farmer Martin Barbre says he couldn’t ask for a better start to the growing season.  “We started a week ago Monday,” he says.  “Everything we’ve planted so far looks good – the corn is up.  We’re not quite 40 percent planted on corn and about 25 percent planted on beans.”

As for his planting start date – he tells Brownfield they’re right on schedule.  “We’re actually a little early if not right on time,” he says.  “We’ve got a pretty good rain storm predicted for this weekend and it may put us a little behind when we get to there.  Most of the rest of our corn ground is ready to plant.”

But Barbre says they’re taking a break for a couple of days – with the forecast for heavy showers, he doesn’t like to put the crop in the ground before that much rainfall.

AUDIO: Martin Barbre, Carmi, IL