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IL Corn Farmers Off to Fast Start With Planting
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Central Illinois farmer Garry Niemeyer was hard at work breaking up the soil near his home this week.

Niemeyer was busy on his garden, though, rather than in his farm fields. That's because the Auburn farmer already planted his 1,550 acres of corn.

Illinois farmers are well ahead of schedule. The Illinois Department of Agriculture says 34 percent of the anticipated 12.6 million-acre corn crop is planted.

That's far different from the past two years. Farmers had to wait out cold weather and rain in 2008 and 2009. A year ago, just 1 percent of the crop was planted at this time.

Iowa State University agricultural economist Bruce Babcock notes that both years farmers grew huge crops. That means it's hard to say what this year's early start will mean.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
04 20 10 by Newsroom
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