Local farmers limited in fields again

By Ryne Turke on May 24, 2016 at 12:33pm

Another week of cool temperatures kept Illinois farmers out of the fields.

The state averaged 3.6 days suitable for fieldwork, almost a day more than West Southwest District farmers.

USDA crop statistician Todd Ballard breaks down the corn and soybean crop numbers.

“Corn planting increased to 89 percent complete, slightly behind the average of 91 percent. Last year at this time, 96 percent was planted. The Southeast District is only at 39 percent planted, due to wet field conditions. Soybeans planted reached 51 percent last week, compared to the five year average of 55 percent. Soybeans emerged reached 20 percent, five points behind the average,” says Ballard.

The crop report shows 97 percent of corn in the local district has been planted and 90 percent has emerged.

Sixty percent of local soybeans are in the ground and 34 percent has emerged.

Local topsoil was nine percent short, 66 percent adequate and 25 percent surplus. Subsoil was eight percent short, 82 percent adequate and ten percent surplus.

The average temperature for the week in Illinois was 58 degrees, down seven degrees from normal. The West Southwest received almost a half inch of rainfall, down 0.35 inches from normal.