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As of mid-May, less than half of the corn and soybean crops had
been put in the ground.
Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician with the USDA,
said statistics show a dry stretch of weather allowed farmers to
get some work done.
“Corn planting reached 89% finished,” said Schleusener. “That
compares to 84% for the five-year average.”
This week, 81% of the soybean crop had been planted. That is
behind last year but still ahead of the five-year average of
73%.
The wet conditions this spring put planting behind schedule in
many areas of the state, but Scott Halpin, a farmer in Grundy
County, told Brownfield that he wasn’t concerned.
“I think one thing we proved in agriculture is when it does get
fit, we can get a lot done in a short amount of time," Halpin
said.
According to the USDA, the condition of the corn that has
emerged is rated at 46% good and 26% excellent. Forty-three
percent of the soybean crop is in good condition and 22% is in
excellent condition which is slightly better than last year.
Illinois is the leading producer of soybeans in the country, and
second in the nation in producing corn.
For winter wheat, heading progress reached 96%, surpassing the
five-year average of 92%.
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