Illinois corn planting almost finished

SPRINGFIELD — The National Agricultural Statistics Service in Springfield reports that Illinois’ corn planting is all but finished.

In its weekly update on Monday, the service also noted that the emerging corn plants are nearly twice the height of an average year.

The Springfield State Journal-Register reports that soybeans are also well ahead of schedule due to Illinois’ unusually warm and dry spring weather spring.

The agriculture service reports that 99 percent of corn is planted. That compares with 84 percent a year ago and the five-year average of 79 percent.

And soybeans are 88 percent planted compared with 38 percent last year and the five-year average of 37 percent.