SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois' farmers are growing more corn this year than last year despite a soggy spring that delayed many of their plantings.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 12.3 million acres of corn are estimated to be in the ground. That's up from 12.2 million acres last year.
Illinois soybean growers have planted 9.1 million acres, down slightly from a year ago.
Nationwide, corn acreage this year is estimated at 87 million, up 1 percent from last year. U.S. soybean acreage is estimated at a record 77.5 million acres, up 2 percent from last year.
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The USDA says Illinois corn plants are 4 inches shorter than this time last year and well shy of the 50-inch average over the past five years.
Illinois soybeans are 88 percent emerged, off 11 percent from the five-year average.