News

Illinois winter wheat planting, soybean harvest almost complete

Winter wheat planting and soybean harvest are nearly complete in Illinois.

The USDA reports as of Sunday 94% of soybeans are harvested, ahead of both last year and the five-year average. Corn harvest is a bit further behind at 88% complete, still ahead of average for the first week in November.

Winter wheat planting reached 95% complete and the agency rates the crop 34% good to excellent. That rating is drastically lower than the 81% good to excellent rating at this time last year, likely due to dry planting conditions in key growing areas this season.

Welcomed rains in many parts of the state helped improve soil moisture with 78% of Illinois topsoil now in the adequate to surplus categories. Statewide average temperatures were nearly 10 degrees above normal last week.