This spring’s wet weather has prevented many farmers from getting into the fields.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported earlier this week that just 7% of the Illinois corn crop has been planted.
In Missouri it’s 22% which is still far below the average.
National Corn Growers Association vice president Paul Bertels says before long the delay will affect farmers’ bottom lines.
“Typically in this area what we say is every day after about May 15 that you delay planting you lose about a bushel per day,” Bertels said.
Bertels says it’s not just the rain that’s been a problem.
“You know in addition to the wet weather this year one of the problems we’ve had is that it’s also been abnormally cold through most of April,” Bertels said. “You need soil temperatures about 50 to 52 degrees for the corn kernel to germinate.”
Bertels says farmers waited to plant last week when the weather warmed… knowing the temperatures would dip again.
Bertels says it will take several sunny, windy days before farmers can begin to plant.
But more rain is in the forecast this week.
