WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Wet, soggy and often unpredictable Midwest weather has put southern Indiana farmers far behind in soybean and corn planting, said Andy Higgins, agricultural statistician for the Indiana office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

While statewide, 61 percent of soybeans have been planted, only 22 percent have been planted in the southern part of the state.
Figures are through the week ending June 1. In the northern part of the state, 80 percent of soybeans have been planted, and in the central part, 63 percent. Last year at this time, 94 percent of soybeans had been planted, and the five-year average is 80 percent, Higgins said.

Farmers still have a chance to get their soybeans planted, he said.
“Soybeans have a little quicker planting time, and if we get some good weather they could get caught up pretty fast,” he said.

Hoosier farmers have 88 percent of corn planted, which is behind last year and the five-year average, Higgins said.

Last year, the Hoosier corn crop was planted by this time. The five-year average is 95 percent.

Farmers in the southern part of the state have 63 percent of their crop planted, while 96 percent is planted in the north, and 94 percent in the central part of the state.

By Michele F. Mihaljevich
Indiana Correspondent

Illinois
Corn and soybean emergence has improved over recent days with warmer temperatures, according to the Illinois Ag Statistics Service (IASS). Planting delays are still common in the two southern most reporting districts, however, with 20 percent of the corn crop awaiting planting and soybean planting “virtually non-existent.”
In central Illinois, Peoria County Farm Bureau Director Patrick Kirchhofer told Farm World that corn planting was 97 percent complete in the county by June 6.

“Corn stands look excellent, with most corn planted the first two weeks in May,” Kirchhofer reported.

The first condition report of the year for Illinois corn found 54 percent of the crop in “good-to-excellent” condition, 35 percent “fair” and 11 percent “poor” to “very poor.”

Overall, 57 percent of Illinois’ soybean crop was planted as of June 1 – down 30 percent from the average, the IASS reported.
But in Peoria County, soybean planting stood at 90 percent complete on June 6, said Kirchhofer.

“Soybean planting has been more of a challenge with the rains during the past three weeks. Many of them were planted in less than ideal conditions as the soil stayed wet,” he said.

By Tim Alexander
Illinois Correspondent

Ohio

As of June 2, 98 percent of the Ohio corn crop was planted with 57 percent emerged, said James Ramey, director of the Ohio Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistic Service, USDA. At the same time last year 100 percent of the corn was planted; the normal rate is 97 percent. Ramey said that was “not a significant difference.”

On the same date 78 percent of the 2008 soybean crop was planted, with 30 percent emerged. In 2007, 98 percent of the crop was planted with 83 percent being normal, Ramey said.

While the percentage of beans planted to date was down from last year, Jamie L. Butts, Ohio Soybean Assoc. said that was to be expected because of the cool, wet spring and farmers getting a late start on planting their corn.

“As we talk to farmers from various parts of the state it seems that there are some people who are still planting beans and others who finished up last week,” Butts said.

“All in all I think everyone will be able to finish planting beans very soon. I did talk to one farmer last week who still had beans to plant and he was not yet in a panic. He said that planting them into the early part of June should still provide a good crop.”

By Celeste Baumgartner
Ohio Correspondent

Iowa

While not all cornfields will be knee high by the Fourth of July, due to late planting because of April’s heavy rainfall, most Iowa farmers have completed corn and soybean planting, which may need replanting in some areas.

“Much of the crop is now in the ground, but there are certainly places where farmers still haven’t been able to finish up and standing water may require some replanting,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

“With more rain in the forecast for this week (June 1), it could be very difficult for those needing to get in the field, whether to plant or spray for weeds,” he said.

Statewide, the June 1 Iowa Crops and Weather Report said corn is 97 percent planted, which is just 2 percent behind last year and 3 percent behind the five-year average, with 77 percent emerged. Soybeans are 82 percent planted, which is 9 percentage points behind last year and 10 percent behind the five-year average, with 37 percent emerged.

Kyle Jensen, ISU field agronomist in northwest Iowa, said the heavy rainfall, and ponding and flooding may cause some replanting, “and push harvest back in spots.”

Jim Fawcett, ISU field agronomist, said about 95 percent of corn and 65 percent of soybeans are planted in northeast Iowa, which has fallen behind the rest of the state.

“There are other fields that probably should be replanted but further rain may prevent it,” he said. “It will delay harvest and likely result in reduced yields.”

By Doug Schmitz
Iowa Correspondent