News

Planting in Illinois slowly picking up the pace

A couple of drier days allowed for more planting in Illinois last week, but farmers are still behind the average pace.

As of Sunday, 24% of the state’s corn crop was planted, up 13 percentage points from the previous week. That is compared to 95% last year and the five-year average of 89%.

Soybeans planted reached 9%, well behind 79% last year and the five-year average of 51%.

The USDA rates Illinois’ winter wheat crop at 38% good to excellent.