Early Fieldwork Not an Option on Most Illinois Farms

BY DANIEL GRANT, FARMWEEKNOW.COM 

Heavy rains late this week followed by another chance of showers early next week could close the door on April fieldwork opportunities at numerous locations around the state and Midwest.

Many farmers expect it could take a week or more for fields to dry out, and the calendar shows just nine days left in the month.

“We’re just in one of these patterns where it (precipitation) is coming about every few days,” Eric Schmidt, meteorologist with EJS Weather in Newton, told the RFD Radio Network^®.

Farmers planted just 3 percent of the corn crop nationwide with only 1 percent in Illinois compared to the average of 5 percent as of April 14, USDA reported.

Precipitation from March 18 through April 16 ranged from 4 to 6 inches in the southern two-thirds of the state, 2.5 to 4 inches in the north central region and 1.5 to 2.5 inches along the northern border, according to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center.