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Farmers get weather break but crops remain behind schedule

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Farmers in Iowa and Nebraska finally got a break in the weather last week to catch up on planting, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture says both states remain significantly behind average seasons in crop development.

Photo courtesy: http://www.canstockphoto.com

The USDA reported Monday that Iowa farmers have now planted 93% of the corn crop, about three weeks behind the five-year average.

In Nebraska, 94% of corn is planted, compared with the average of 99%.

For soybeans, the Iowa crop is 70% planted, about 17 days behind the average for this time of year.

Nebraska farmers have planted 79% of the soybean crop, behind the 94% average. Only 55% of the crop has emerged, well behind the 80% average.

The status of sorghum and winter wheat in Nebraska is similarly behind as Midwest framers have dealt with a rainy planting season.

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