Planted corn acres in Illinois jumped from 12% to 42% last week, according to the April 25 Illinois Department of Agriculture crop report. A lot of corn went in the ground during the week of April 11 and over the April 16-17 weekend, while rains across the state slowed progress after April 19, Prairie Farmer editors observed. Spotty and varied are the words to use; rainfall reports range from a tenth to 2 inches, in less than a couple miles.

As wet weather moved out, planters slowly headed back out.  

Justin Leerkamp, who farms near Sidney, just south of Champaign, returned to the field on Sunday. Leerkamp said he is about 40% done with both corn and beans.

RAIN DELAY: Andrew Bowman, Oneida, parked his planter on Tuesday and returned to the field over the weekend.

In northern Illinois, where dirt was flying behind planters even in no-till fields, the rain may help get the crop to a perfect start. After a week of scattered showers, topsoil moisture supply was rated at 8% short, 75% adequate, and 17% surplus. Of note is southern Illinois, which has borne the brunt of surplus topsoil moisture. Southwest Illinois was rated at 23% surplus; southeast Illinois at 68% surplus; east southeast at 37%. Suffice to say, it’s been wet across southern Illinois.

Many farmers were working long days, putting as much corn in the ground as possible while the weather held. After a substantial effort last week, Illinois farmers are ahead of the 5-year corn planted average. The report also indicates a minimal percentage of soybeans in the ground across the state.

Looking ahead, more scattered thunderstorms lurk in several areas throughout the state. However, experts caution against rushing back into fields too soon after a weather event.

DRY START: Dirt flew behind the planter last week on Nelson Family Farms, Lynn Center.

“We certainly can’t fix the weather. And we can’t, or shouldn’t, plant in mud,” said Emerson Nafziger, extension crop production specialist, University of Illinois. “Regardless of planting date, we need to concentrate on making sound management decisions that allow the crop to take advantage of growing season conditions.”

BIG WEEK: Planted corn acres jumped by 30% according to Monday’s crop report.