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Some areas of the state received their fair share of rain, as
33% of respondents to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey
reported a surplus of moisture. But the rain has been
hit-or-miss.
The soil condition made headlines earlier this month when a dust
storm caused a massive pile-up on an interstate south of
Springfield in which seven people were killed. The dust arose
after high winds picked up topsoil that had been tilled in
nearby fields.
According to a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists,
every year, U.S. croplands lose about twice as much soil to
erosion as the Great Plains are estimated to have lost annually
during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
This year, corn and soybean planting is ahead of schedule.
Illinois State Statistician Mark Schleusener said corn planting
is close to being completed.
“Corn planting advanced by 11 points and reached 84% finished by
Sunday,” Schleusener said. “That is 35 points ahead of last year
and 21 points ahead of the 5-year average.”
Soybean planting is also ahead of last year’s progress, with 77%
of beans in the ground compared to 45% in 2022.
Winter wheat was at 74%, compared to the 5-year average of 56%.
Farmers report the condition of wheat was rated 30% fair, 51%
good, and 11% excellent.
Several Illinois counties dominated the national rankings in
terms of corn and soybean production last year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that Illinois had
the top five counties in the country for total corn production.
McLean County ranked first across the entire U.S. with nearly 71
million bushels of corn produced last year. The other counties
included Iroquois, Livingston, LaSalle and Champaign.
Illinois is home to several counties that ranked in the top ten
for soybean production as well. McLean County led the nation,
with Iroquois, Champaign, Livingston and LaSalle counties ranked
fourth through seventh nationally.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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