News

Illinois crops progressing ahead of average to end October

Crop progress in Illinois is ahead of the five-year average for this time of year.  

The USDA reports as of Sunday 78% of corn is harvested compared to 77% on average. Soybean harvest is 89% complete, ahead of the 83% average and winter wheat planting reached 80% complete, just ahead of the average of 79%.

In the agency’s first winter wheat rating of the year, the Illinois crop is considered 35% good to excellent, dramatically lower than the 86% good to excellent rating at this point last year, likely a result of dry conditions in key growing areas.