With harvest finally over, West Central Illinois farmers continued with fall tillage last week.
Temperatures remained rather high last week. In the West Southwest District, the average temperature was 49 degrees, that 5.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation remains lower than normal, as the local district received 0.13 inches, which is 0.62 inches below normal.
State crop statistician Mark Schleusener looks at crop conditions throughout Illinois.
“The sorghum crop is 92 percent harvested compared to 99 percent one year ago and 96 percent normally. Pasture and range condition in Illinois rated as follows: eight percent of acres are in very poor-to-poor condition, 25 percent are fair and 67 percent are in good-to-excellent condition. Winter wheat acres emerged reached 90 percent as of November 20th, that is four percentage points behind one year ago and two points ahead of the five-year average. The condition of next year’s winter wheat crop was rated as four percent very poor-to-poor, 26 percent fair and 70 percent good-to-excellent, slightly better than one week ago,” says Schleusener. .
The West Southwest District saw 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Topsoil moisture in the local district was 17 percent short, 70 percent adequate and 13 percent surplus. Local subsoil moisture was 18 percent short, 77 percent adequate and five percent surplus.