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Soybean yields dip from late-season dryness, but corn shows resilience in north central Illinois

A farmer in north central Illinois says it’s been a somewhat surprising harvest season.

Mark Wilson, who raises corn, soybeans, and hogs in Stark County, says heavy disease pressure limited his expectations in corn.

“We had tar spot early, had some gray leaf, had some northern leaf blight, had some southern rust, but it’s coming out in the 230’s, something like that, so really happy with that,” he says.

He says crop protection was key, and tells Brownfield…

“I’m a little disappointed in the beans.”  He says, “The dry spell, the end of August there, first part of September, so didn’t have quite the beans I was hoping I’d have, but you know, they’re 8%. What? What are you gonna do?”

Wilson says the dry fall has led to a quicker-than-average harvest pace in his area.

AUDIO: Mark Wilson – Illinois farmer