Rain, snow slows corn planting in Nebraska
USDA says cold, wet weather creates soggy fields, delays corn planting in Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- This spring's cold, wet weather has delayed planting in Nebraska because many fields are soggy after last week's snow and rain.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says only 14 percent of the state's corn crop has been planted. That's slightly better than the national estimate that 12 percent of the corn crop has been planted, but it's about a week and a half behind average for Nebraska.
At this time last year, 70 percent of Nebraska's corn was planted.
Only 1 percent of Nebraska's soybeans have been planted, well behind the 53 percent average.
But even with the wet spring, many Nebraska farms lack needed soil moisture because of the drought. About 36 percent of topsoil and about 84 percent of subsoil is either short or very short on moisture.
