News

Dry August impacting southern Illinois yields

A southeastern Illinois farmer says a late-season drought has impacted his yields.

“The driest August in 130 years.”

Jeff Scates, who farms in White and Gallatin Counties, says he’s about two weeks into corn harvest.

“We’ve seen some yields in the 230-plus range, and we actually had a field that only made 122,” he says.

He tells Brownfield he’s only been into a few soybean fields, but the results so far are worrisome.

“The one that we combined, they were under irrigation and made 67 bushels,” he says, “so not setting the world on fire by any means for an irrigated crop.”

According to the USDA, as of Sunday, 2% of Illinois corn is harvested, with 53% in good to excellent condition, 27% mature, and 87% dented.  Fifty-four percent of soybeans are in good condition, with 36% dropping leaves.

Dry conditions persist for much of the state, and only 35% of Illinois pastures are rated in good to excellent condition.

AUDIO: Jeff Scates – Illinois farmer