(SPRINGFIELD) To expand on Monday’s USDA Illinois Crop Progress Report, there were 5.3 days on average available for field work around Illinois last week. The statewide average temperature was 70.6 degrees last week, nearly one degree (0.9) below normal. The state’s average precipitation was 0.62 inches last week, 0.35 inches below normal. As of Sunday, most all of the corn has been planted with 93% of the soybeans now in the ground. Both crops are rated between 60% and 70% in good to excellent condition, plus the winter wheat harvest is now underway as of Sunday. Local and area farmers continue to wait on dry ground conditions to finish planting, and is some cases, replanting, plus the wheat is harvest is nearly ready to start when it dries up. Let’s remember “safety first” out there.
