News

IL planting continued to stall last week

Planting continued its well behind average pace in Illinois last week with less than two days suitable for fieldwork because of moisture.

USDA says 15 percent of the state’s corn crop is planted, 56 percent behind last year. One percent of the crop has emerged, 31 percent behind last year.

Eleven percent of Illinois’ soybean crop is planted, more than 40 percent behind last year.

Heading for Illinois’ winter wheat reached 19 percent, more than 20 percent behind last year and the five-year average. Wheat’s condition rating fell slightly with 64 percent fair or better.

Pasture conditions worsened last week but are nearly all fair or good; 51 percent rated good, and 28 percent rated fair. Topsoil moisture is 49 percent adequate and 50 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture is 58 percent adequate and 40 percent surplus.