The latest USDA crop report says cold, wet weather slowed planting progress last week.
The report says there were only two-and-a-half suitable days for fieldwork. Corn planting advanced only 3% compared to the first week, and now sits at 10% complete. That is nine days ahead of last year, after being 14 days ahead in the first week. Planting is now equal to the five-year average, after being six days ahead of that average after the first week of planting. Five percent of the expected soybean crop is in the ground. That is ten days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the average.
The area weather indicates that the average high one degree higher than normal. The average high is 56.4 degrees, while the normal high is 55.4 degrees. The average low is a half degree higher than normal. The average low is 33.8 degrees while the normal low is 33.4 degrees. Currently the area precipitation received is 2.03 inches while the normal amount of precipitation for the month is 3.33 inches. This leaves the area 1.3 inches below normal.
