Farmers are behind planting soybeans

PEORIA -- After struggling to get the corn crop planted, central Illinois farmers continue to battle wet conditions to get soybeans in the ground.

Dunlap farmer Ross Pauli says he is about 50 percent done with planting his soybean crop, noting the fields are too wet.

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 93 percent of the state's corn crop has been planted while 59 percent of the soybeans are in the ground.

Despite being behind five-year planting averages, Lyle Roberts of the Illinois Soybean Association says more soybeans will be planted in the state this year because of high demand for oil and soymeal.

University of Illinois agronomist Emerson Nafziger says it will take unusually good weather the rest of the year for crop yield not to be affected by the late plantings.