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Rain Continues to Hold Up Illinois Corn Planting
This year's corn planting in Illinois is off to an even slower start than last year's.

Farmers have placed about 4 percent of their crop seeds in the ground, compared to 5 percent at this time last year, and a five-year average of 43 percent.

USDA crop statistician Brad Schwab says not to panic - yet. He points to last year's slow start as an example, a season which produced a near-record harvest. Schwab says not to count on last year's results, however, because there wasn't an early freeze, and conditions following the wet spring were close to perfect.

Schwab says soil should be at around 55 degrees in order for the corn seeds to sprout once they're in the ground, and most of the state, except the extreme northern part, is at or above that. Now,

Schwab says farmers need good conditions to get into the fields and start planting more. But, taking a look at the forecast, he says that will be a tall order. Schwab says the 10-day outlook calls for rain and thunderstorms, which is about the worst possible scenario. He says there were about two days last week suitable for planting.

(USDA, Illinois Radio Network)
04 27 09 by Newsroom
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