The 2025 planting season in Illinois presents a contrasting picture for farmers, as revealed by the USDA Crop Progress Report issued on April 21. Corn planting lags behind historical averages, while soybean planting shows promising progress slightly ahead of schedule. Winter wheat remains stable despite regional moisture challenges affecting parts of the state.
In the case of corn, Illinois farmers have only managed to plant 7% of their fields so far, marking a 6% increase from the previous week but trailing significantly behind the five-year average of 11%. Ryan Gentle, Agronomy Manager at Wyffels, noted nearly ideal conditions in West Central Illinois, where most farmers began with soybeans before transitioning to corn later in the week. With favorable temperatures, Gentle anticipates that corn planted last week will emerge within 8-10 days.
On the other hand, soybean planting has surged to 10%, up from just 2% the previous week and surpassing the five-year average of 7%. In Gentle’s area, several growers have already completed their soybean planting, and those planted in March are now visible in rows.
Winter wheat continues to show steady progress, with 5% of crops headed, slightly below the five-year average of 6%. The crop's condition is rated mostly good, with 49% rated as such, complemented by 38% fair and 6% excellent ratings.
However, excessive moisture poses challenges in some regions. According to Phil Krieg, an Agronomy Service Representative for Syngenta Crop Protection, planters restarted operations in Southern Illinois on April 16, only to be halted again due to rainfall ranging from 0.5 to 4 inches over Easter weekend. Concerns persist about flooding along the Embarras and Little Wabash Rivers, impacting thousands of acres near Interstate 64. This situation could influence planting decisions and potentially lead to prevented planting scenarios.
Despite these obstacles, soil moisture levels across Illinois remain largely adequate, with topsoil rated 72% adequate and subsoil at 73% adequate. As the weather stabilizes, farmers are optimistic about resuming fieldwork, balancing challenges with opportunities for a successful planting season.