A fairly dry week gave producers time to catch up in the fields as we hear in the weekly crop report. Thanks to the nearly six days suitable for fieldwork, Crop Statistician Mark Schleusener says corn planting surged ahead to 32 percent complete around the state–although our area would seem to be well behind that total at this point. But, that compares to 59 percent last year and 40 percent for the five year average. As for soybeans—–
81 percent of the winter wheat crop is rated in good to excellent condition. Rainfall was a half inch below normal, dropping average statewide topsoil moisture to 3 percent very short, 11 percent short, 74 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus.