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Heat Helps Corn Crops
Temperatures last week in Illinois were nearly 10 degrees higher than average, helping the state's cash crops get in some growing time. USDA crop statistician Brad Schwab says warm temperatures dried out much of the precipitation, and the result was great progress in both the corn and soybean crops.

Soybeans are now 73 percent planted, just ahead of the 71 percent five-year average, with emergence at 49 percent. Last week, soybeans were only at 47 percent planted and 27 percent emerged.

The corn crop is 94 percent emerged, compared to the five-year average of 82 percent. More noticeable is the height of the stalks, now at an average 11 inches high, which is five inches taller than last week's average. Schwab says he's watching the color of the corn plants, saying many are yellow, partly due to a lack of time for good tilling this spring and partly because of a lack of nitrogen in the soil.

Schwab says the high temperatures last week also helped farmers re-plant soggy areas.

Winter wheat is 94 percent headed, 62 percent filled, and 21 percent of the crop is turning yellow, all numbers comparable to the five-year averages. Oats are behind, with 46 percent of the crop headed, compared to the five-year average of 25 percent.

(Illinois Radio Network)
06 02 10 by Newsroom
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