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Illinois farmer says crops look good, but won’t break records

A Central Illinois farmer says timely rains are keeping his corn and soybeans in good shape even if he doesn’t think the crop will be a record setter.

Len Corzine farms near Assumption, Illinois and he tells Brownfield the next few weeks of weather will have a big impact on how the crop comes through its reproduction stage.

“If we keep getting these rains which we all want we will have more disease to watch for and scout for and if it stays dry we will have insects to deal with.” Corzine has found a few tassels in his corn fields and figures that widespread tasseling will occur in the next week to ten days.

Corzine says a wind storm a few weeks ago laid some of his corn crop down but now it’s standing back up. As he looks towards fall, he’s concerned about the growing costs getting the crop harvested and brought to market.

“We are only 35 miles away from Decatur, Illinois and the cost has doubled to have grain hauled to Decatur.”

Corzine was able to get through the planting season without many supply chain problems. So far, all the fertilizer and crop protectants he’s needed have been available.