News

Illinois crop conditions hold steady despite derecho

Statewide crop condition ratings held mostly steady last week, despite the intense derecho windstorm that swept through the northern half of Illinois.

As of Sunday, the USDA rates Illinois corn 76% good to excellent, only a three-point drop from the week before. Similarly, Illinois soybeans dropped two percentage points to 76% good to excellent.

Illinois Ag Director Jerry Costello tells Brownfield thankfully, crop damage reports have been minimal.

“Possibly like 2-3% are the preliminary numbers that we are getting. So, that would be a crop damage type estimate.”

In comparison, corn conditions in Iowa where the brunt of the storm occurred, dropped 10 percentage points to the lowest this season.

Illinois corn in the dough stage reached 81% while 21% of the crop is dented. Soybeans blooming reached 97% with 84% setting pods. Illinois pastureland is rated 69% good to excellent.