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Change in the weather a welcome harvest respite for central Illinois farmer

A central Illinois farmer says this week’s rains are a welcome relief.

Ken Franklin, who grows corn and soybeans in Christian County, says the late summer heat has taken a toll.

“We’ve been rolling pretty good the past couple weeks.”  He says, “It’s kind of pick your poison.  You’re either going to have really dry corn to get out or really dry beans with this blowtorch we’ve had the past six weeks. But today looks like there’s a little change in the weather pattern, some cooler weather. A fall day that everybody has looked forward to for a while because we’re tired of the heat.”

Despite that, he tells Brownfield early yields are promising.

“I’m sure it’s taken a little of the top end off.”  He says, “Bean yields have been really, really good that we’ve been in so far, and we have not been in too much of the corn yet, but we hear it’s going to be, you know, around average one way or the other.”

Statewide, the USDA says 7% of the corn crop is harvested with 57% in good to excellent condition, 94% dented, and 69% mature, while 13% of soybeans are harvested with 57% in good shape and 67% dropping leaves.  Three percent of winter wheat is planted with 1% emerged.

AUDIO: Ken Franklin – Illinois farmer