Illinois picks up planting pace

Planting progress made large strides in Illinois last week with more than five days suitable for fieldwork thanks to unseasonably hot weather.

USDA says 55 percent of the state’s corn crop is planted, with 40 percent of the crop going in the ground last week but still 29 percent behind last year. Thirteen percent of the crop has emerged, 43 percent behind last year.

Thirty – eight percent of Illinois’ soybean crop is planted, more than 30 percent behind last year.

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