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Downed corn robs top-end yield for Illinois farmer

Harvest is full speed ahead for a farmer in east central Illinois.

Dave Kermicle of Olney tells Brownfield he started corn harvest last Monday and patches of downed stalks have been a theme throughout his fields.

“On August 1^st we had a major storm with 9 to 11 inches of rain and a lot of wind. I think that’s what got it.” Some of his fields were also hit with hail. “So, about 2/3 of the way through the season that corn lost its leaves.”

He says before that storm his crop looked on pace with last year and now he’s estimating 10% less, but “It is still a really good crop and we are thankful for what we have.”

Kermicle plans to start soybean harvest tomorrow. “Soybean yields are hard to predict but I think they are average or maybe a little better than average, so we will see.”

Brownfield’s Rhiannon Branch interviewed Kermicle from his combine on Tuesday.