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Only 10% of Illinois corn is in the ground

Illinois is the furthest behind average of any state in corn planting.

The USDA says that as of Sunday, corn planted increased by only one percentage point from the previous week to 10%. That is significantly behind 68% last year and 66% for the five-year average.

Rodney Weinzierl with the Illinois Corn Growers Association says planting is behind according to the calendar, but it is not too late.

“You know, it is getting later than average from a calendar standpoint but it’s not as late from Mother Nature’s standpoint when you put in temperature or growing degree days.”

Soybeans planted reached 3% compared to 26% last year and the average of 16%.

Average rainfall across the state last week was 3.2 inches, more than 2 inches above normal, making less than half of a day suitable for fieldwork.