PLANTING PROGRESS SLOWED SLIGHTLY AS WE HEAR IN THE WEEKLY CROP REPORT.

LESS THAN TWO DAYS ON AVERAGE WERE SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK THIS PAST WEEK, WITH ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS. CROP STATISTICIAN MARK SCHLEUSENER TAKES A LOOK AT SOYBEAN PROGRESS.

89 PERCENT OF CORN HAS BEEN PLANTED, UP FROM 83 PERCENT LAST WEEK. 66 PERCENT HAS EMERGED AND 55 PERCENT OF THE CROP IS RATED IN GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION. 

82 PERCENT OF WINTER WHEAT HAS HEADED AND THE FIRST CUTTING OF ALFALFA IS NOW 14 PERCENT COMPLETE. 

AVERAGE STATEWIDE TOPSOIL MOISTURE IS RATED AS 53 PERCENT ADEQUATE AND 47 PERCENT SURPLUS.