The next few days of drying out is good news for area farmers.
41-percent of eastern Iowa farmers, and a quarter of the farmers in northwest Illinois, are saying the same thing: the fields are too wet. In some areas, field work will be further delayed until the soil dries out a bit.
Right now, the statistical survey of farmers finds:
- 59% of east central Iowa farmers say topsoil moisture is adequate
- 41% say there is a surplus
- 73% of northwest Illinois farmers say soil moisture is adequate
- 26% see a surplus of top soil moisture
But there is progress with the corn crop.
About half of the eastern Iowa corn crop is now planted. 14-percent is emerging. That's a little behind the statewide average.
In Illinois, almost 90-percent of the corn crop is in the ground with almost two-thirds of it emerging. It's way ahead of last year's averages in both states.
Specifically:
- 53% of eastern Iowa corn is planted
- 14% of the crop has emerged
- 64% of the Iowa corn crop is now planted
- 89% of the Illinois corn crop is planted
- 64% has emerged