Higher Temps; Corn Farmers Close in on Completing Planting

(ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU FILE PHOTO)

BY JEFF BROWN, FARM WEEK NOW

Temperatures across Illinois swung to the plus side of average last week for a change, and Illinois cornfields noticed the difference.

Taking advantage of thermometer readings nearly 9 degrees above normal for the week, Illinois farmers planted 42 percent of their corn last week, according to USDA’s crop progress report released Monday afternoon.

After spending most of April waiting to get in the field, they’re now ahead of schedule.

Corn planting stands at 74 percent complete, compared with 65 percent last year and 56 percent for the five-year average. Soybeans, meanwhile, are 29 percent planted, versus 14 percent last year and a historical pace of 12 percent.

“The ground conditions, finally, once it warmed up, turned out wonderful – probably the best conditions we’ve planted in for quite a while,” said FarmWeek CropWatcher Jacob Streitmatter, from Peoria County. “It’s going great. We’ve got about one day yet to run. If all goes well, we might finish (corn and soybean planting) today.”

Related: Visit this link for reports from CropWatchers in other parts of the state.

Corn emergence continues to lag at 14 percent, behind last year’s pace of 28 percent and the five-year pace of 22 percent. Soybean emergence stands at 1 percent, on par with historic averages.

Just 14 percent of the winter wheat crop has headed, compared with 76 percent last year and a five-year pace of 32 percent.

Many farmers were thankful for rainfall last week. Streitmatter reported receiving a half-inch; other CropWatchers reported as much as 2 inches.

“We could use a lot more than that now,” Streitmatter said. “It’s getting pretty dry, but I guess we’ll take what comes.”

Statewide,74 percent of topsoil is considered adequate, with 14 percent rated short or very short and 12 percent surplus.