News

Corn harvest begins as Illinois crops remain dry

Illinois farmers saw crop conditions deteriorate last week with continued warm and dry weather.  USDA reporters say the state averaged just over three-tenths of an inch of rain last week, with topsoil moisture only 35% adequate with 43% short and 22% very short.  Subsoil moisture levels were comparable.

Forty-two percent of corn in Illinois is mature, with 87% dented.  Harvesting is 2% finished, which is equal to the five-year average.  Just 10% of the corn crop is in excellent condition, while 48% is good, 26% is rated fair, and 10% is in poor condition. 

Ninety-seven percent of the state’s soybeans are setting pods, which is slightly ahead of average.  Twenty-seven percent of the beans are dropping leaves.  Fourteen percent of the soybean crop is rated excellent, with 44% in good condition, 25% fair, and 11% poor.

The third cutting of alfalfa hay is 85% finished.