Corn planting done; soybean planting begins

Last week, weather patterns returned to more normal conditions, and fieldwork resumed at a brisk pace in most parts of Illinois.
Statewide precipitation averaged 0.67 inches, which was 0.34 below average. Temperatures were 62 degrees statewide. The drier conditions led to 4.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn planted reached 95 percent statewide, 30 percent above the five-year average of 65 percent. Corn emerged reached 76 percent, 41 percent above the five-year average.
Now that many producers have finished corn planting, most have turned their attention to soybean planting or hay cutting. Soybeans planted jumped 23 points to 44 percent, 23 percent above the five-year average.
Alfalfa percent first cut now stands at 42 percent, compared to the five-year average of 6 percent.
A significant portion of the winter wheat crop began to turn yellow at 20 percent. Winter wheat conditions improved slightly to 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 14 percent fair, 58 percent good and 24 percent excellent.
Topsoil moisture was rated as 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus.