SPRINGFIELD, ILL (IRN) -The U.S.D.A. says weather conditions around Illinois and Missouri last week were nearly perfect for planting.

Crop statistician Mark Schleusener says farmers were in the fields for  4½ days last week.

“There was some rain in most places but not enough to really curtail fieldwork,” he says. “Overall, the state averaged .67 inches of rain. That’s about a third of an inch below normal.”

Schleusener says farmers are almost done planting corn with reports indicating 95 percent completion. That compares to 89 percent the previous week and 65 percent for the five-year average.

He says drier conditions have allowed farmers to make progress on soybeans as well, with 44 percent of the crop planted as of last week – compared to 21 percent the previous week and 21 percent for the five-year average.

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