Pike County farmers ahead of schedule this spring
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Pike County’s corn and bean farmers are off to a fast start this spring, with much of the spring planting already behind them.
According to Jason Thomas, of Thomas Farms south of Pittsfield, a relatively dry spring allowed him and his family to get done planting a month ahead of last year.
“We’re done planting,” Thomas said. “I think pretty much everybody around here is about done already.”
In addition to planting earlier, Thomas said the timeframe over which the Thomases planted was much shorter this year.
“Last year we started planting April 26 and finished on May 30,” Thomas said. “This year we were already done planting on April 24. Last year it took us 36 or 39 days to get everything in. This year it only took 16 days.”
This year’s relatively dry spring, Thomas said, is what allowed local farmers to get planting done so early.
“Because the conditions were right we were able to get everything in the ground,” Thomas said. “Previous years were muddier and the ground was seepy.”
Thomas said that each planting season is unique and can vary dramatically from year to year.
“My daughter just turned 10 on May 9th,” Thomas said. “I remember 10 years ago we were just getting into the fields and hadn’t planted anything yet. This year we are about to start spraying the corn. Every year is different.”
May 15’s USDA Illinois Crop Progress and Condition report bears out what Thomas reported about his farm, showing that farmers across the state are ahead of the typical planting schedule.
According to the report, corn planted reached 84 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 63 percent. Corn emerged reached 45 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 34 percent. Soybeans planted reached 77 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 45 percent. Soybeans emerged reached 38 percent compared to the 5-year average of 18 percent.
