Agriculture

Chilly temperatures and wet conditions have put farmers behind schedule this year. Only 28 percent of Missouri’s corn acres and 17 percent of Illinois’ have been planted. By comparison, both states’ farmers had planted over 90 percent of their acres at this point last year.

Indi Braden is an agriculture professor at Southeast Missouri State University. She said the weather has not been cooperating.

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.