News

Rains help Illinois crop conditions, still room for improvement

The USDA reports Illinois crop conditions continue to get better with added moisture, but there is still room for improvement.

The agency reports an average 1.19 inches of rain across the state last week giving the corn crop a good to excellent rating of 39%, up three percentage points on the week and soybeans are considered 36% good to excellent, up six points.

27% of corn is silking with 1% in the dough stage. 40% of soybeans are blooming with 10% setting pods. The third cutting of alfalfa hay has started.

88% of winter wheat harvest is complete, in line with the five-year average.