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Crops Behind Averages, But Still Good
Dry weather last week was beneficial for farmers who have been waiting to harvest corn and soybeans.

The latest crop report says the average temperature in western Illinois was 69.4 degrees, 8 degrees above normal and a little warmer than the statewide average, and not much more than a trace of rain fell in the region. That gave many farmers a full week for fieldwork, if they could get into their fields.

USDA crop statistician Brad Schwab says farmers made little corn harvest progress, instead opting to allow the weather to dry their crops and muddy fields. "We didn't have a lot of progress, only three percentage points last week," Schwab said. "That corn still needs some time to dry down. Looking at the average temperatures for the week, being at 7.6 degrees above normal, that was just ideal."

Four percent of the corn crop is harvested, and 52 percent is mature. Both percentages are well behind last year and the five-year average. The same is true for soybeans, which are only 6 percent harvested so far.

Field moisture in western Illinois is still more than ample after a dry week. The USDA reports 100 percent of the area's topsoil moisture is rated adequate or surplus.

The condition of the state's corn crop is 71 percent good or excellent, and soybeans are essentially the same.

Schwab says the weather forecast for the next ten days is in favor of the farmers, which should substantially boost the harvest numbers over that time period.
10 01 08 by Newsroom
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