News

One extreme to the next in southwestern Illinois

A southwestern Illinois farmer says a wet spring has turned into a dry summer.

“Believe it or not, we need rain.”

Garrett Hawkins, who farms in Monroe County and serves as president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, says an extremely wet April and May delayed planting, but recent rains have mostly missed his farm.

“We really didn’t get going until mid to late May, but got everything in.”  He says, “But now it’s dry where we are, and it got hot, and we’re kind of begging for rain.”

According to the USDA, 68% of Illinois corn is in good to excellent condition, even with last week, with 46% silking and 6% in dough stage.  Sixty percent of soybeans are in good condition, up 6% over last week, with 53% blooming and 12% setting pods.

Hawkins tells Brownfield, “Everything is planted.”  He says, “The double crops are planted and we’re just doing spraying.  Maybe planting the last few drowned-out spots of soybeans and just hoping for some rain.”

Ninety-three percent of winter wheat is harvested. 

Fifty-six percent of pastures are rated good to excellent condition, with 65% of alfalfa second cutting complete.

AUDIO: Garrett Hawkins – Illinois farmer