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Indiana farmers finally near planting completion after wet spring

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Posted at 11:15 AM, Jun 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-19 11:16:53-04

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana farmers are getting closer to completing the crop planting that's been badly delayed by this spring's frequent rains.

The newest U.S. Department of Agriculture report shows 84% percent of Indiana's expected corn crop was planted at the start of this week. That's up from just 31 percent from two weeks ago but the state's five-year average would have all the corn crop planted.

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Farmers in neighboring states are also struggling. Illinois has 88 percent of its corn crop planted, while Ohio is only has 68 percent completed.

Agriculture officials say the wet spring has forced some farmers to consider switching corn acreage to other crops.

The latest report lists 64 percent of Indiana's soybean crop as planted, up from 17 percent two weeks ago. The state's five-year average is 94 percent for soybean planting.