News

IL crops ahead of averages

The USDA says over three quarters of the Illinois corn and soybean crop remains in good to excellent condition.

Bureau County farmer Evan Hultine is cautiously optimistic.

“Everything looks good and I’ve actually, in the last week, been telling people when they ask that I’m a little concerned we’re gonna be disappointed because things look so good.”  He says, “You know, if we don’t get those big numbers, it might still be good. But I mean it just it looks that good right now.”

The latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows 81% of the corn crop and 75% of the soybean crop in good to excellent condition.  Hultine tells Brownfield…

“It’s not in the bin, so we’re going to keep a wary eye,” he says.

Fifty six percent of the corn crop is in dough stage, compared to 46% normally.

Seventy seven percent of soybeans are setting pods, 23% ahead of average.

Pasture and range conditions are 69% good to excellent, and the second cutting of alfalfa hay is 95% complete, with the third cutting at 37%, right on average. 

Only 8% percent of Illinois topsoil moistures are rated short or very short, while 17% are rated surplus.