ILLINOIS PLANTING: SO FAR, SO GOOD

May 08, 2012  |  Today's News

Though wet weather slowed some of the higher than average corn planting progress in Illinois last week, yesterday’s planting progress report for Illinois showed that corn planting progress as well as corn emergence are still significantly higher than the five year average for Illinois.

The corn already in the ground benefitted from the warm, wet conditions last week.  Temps were actually almost 11 degrees higher than average at 68.5 average over the seven days.  Corn emerged jumped to 64 percent, compared to 34 percent last week and the 5-year average of 18 percent.

Eighty-nine percent of the corn crop is planted in Illinois, compared to 84 percent in Indiana and 64 percent in Iowa.

With 94 percent of topsoil moisture at adequate or surplus and a host of warmer weather this coming week, the Illinois corn crop looks like it’s off to an excellent start in May of 2012.  Of course, weather stresses, insect and disease pressures, and harvest conditions can still make or break this crop in the next several months.  Stay tuned!

SOURCES:

USDA NASS

ILLINOIS WEATHER AND CROPS