WEEKLY CROP PROGRESS REPORTS BEGIN

Tricia Braid

Mar 28, 2016  |  Today's News

The Illinois Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Services started issuing their weekly crop progress and condition report today. Given the early date, winter wheat was the only crop reported. The data is collected through the weekend and prepared for each week’s Monday afternoon release. USDA NASS will release its Spring Planting Intentions Report on March 31.

According to NASS in Illinois, preparation for spring planting is in full swing across Illinois, with operators applying fertilizer and performing spring fieldwork. Statewide, the average temperature for the month of March was 46.1 degrees, 5.9 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 2.33 inches, 0.26 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated at 4 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated at 3 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus. Winter wheat condition was rated 5 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 50 percent good, and 17 percent excellent.

All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov.

Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive reports by Email,” click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would like to receive.