Harvest activities continue in West Central Illinois with warmer temperatures and below normal precipitation.
Temperatures in the West Southwest District last week averaged nearly two degrees higher than the rest of the state. As for precipitation, the local district saw about one-tenth of an inch less than the statewide average.
Locally, 92-percent of corn acres are harvested. For soybeans, 98-percent are dropping leaves and 71-percent are harvested.
USDA crop statistician Mark Schleusener looks at the rest of Illinois…
“Corn harvest advanced by eleven points and is now 73 percent finished, behind last year’s pace of 81 percent and ahead of the five-year average of 63 percent. Soybean harvest is now 58 percent finished, well behind last year’s pace of 81 percent, and five points behind the five-year average of 63 percent complete,” Schleusener says.
The local district experienced 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork.
Topsoil in the West Southwest District was one percent very short, 11-percent short, 80-percent adequate and eight percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was one percent very short, seven percent short, 88-percent adequate and four percent surplus.