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“Rainfall averaged 0.28 inches across Illinois and that was
three-tenths of an inch drier than normal for this time of
year,” said Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician with
the United States Department of Agriculture. “Northern areas
received more rainfall than southern parts of the state.”
The dry conditions have led to field fires in recent weeks,
mostly in east-central Illinois. Some fires have broken out even
after a field was harvested. The USDA reports topsoil moisture
supply was rated 28% very short, 52% short, and only 20%
adequate.
As of Sunday, the corn harvest reached 87% complete. That is
compared to 78% percent last year at this time, and a 5-year
average of 73%. Illinois is the second leading corn producer in
the U.S.
The soybean harvest is also nearing completion. The soybean
harvest reached 90% Sunday, which is compared to the 5-year
average of 80%.
Andy Dole, who farms in Coles County, said he expects the
soybean yield to be close to 70 bushels an acre.
“That is somewhere from 7 to 10 percent lower than last year,”
said Dole. “Too much rain at the wrong time and not enough when
we needed the rain.”
Illinois is the top soybean producer in the country, followed by
Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana. The four states collectively grow
49% of the nation's soybeans. |
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