News

Central Illinois farmer says 2025 harvest was fast and furious

A central Illinois farmer says the 2025 harvest season was fast and furious.

Matt Bennett, who grows corn and soybeans in Shelby County, tells Brownfield, “Most of the corn came out pretty good, yields very close to APH, a little bit above in some places.”  He says, “April-planted beans were awfully good. The later May-planted beans on lighter ground really suffered, but we kind of figured that would happen with the dry finish we had to the season.”

He says the dry weather made soybean moistures a challenge, but it did allow most farmers in his area to wrap up harvest faster than usual.

“I think we’re pretty happy with yields.”  He says, “I think the problem, of course, is the combination of yields and price.  We didn’t have a whole lot of opportunities to sell at good prices this year.”

Bennett says fertilizer applications and fieldwork in preparation for the 2026 growing season are well underway.

The USDA’s weekly harvest progress reports have been delayed indefinitely by the partial shutdown of the federal government.

AUDIO: Matt Bennett – Illinois farmer