With nearly an inch of rainfall above normal last week, Illinois is more than 50 percentage points behind average for corn and soybean planting. The USDA reports as of Sunday, corn planted reached 35%, well behind 99% last year and the five-year average of 95%. Twenty percent of corn has emerged. Soybeans planted reached 14% compared to 89% last year and the average of 70%. Illinois’ winter wheat crop is rated 35% good to excellent with 78% of the crop headed, also behind average.
