West Central Illinois harvest nearing completion

By Gary Scott on October 25, 2016 at 1:07pm

Harvest season for corn and soybeans throughout Illinois is drawing to a close.

Temperatures and precipitation across the state remain high. The average local temperature last week was 61 degrees, 7.3 degrees above normal. Precipitation in the West Southwest District was 1.08 inches last week, 0.36 inches above normal.

Locally, 96 percent of corn acres are harvested, while soybean acres are at 86 percent harvested.

For the statewide figures, USDA crop statistician Mark Schleusener breaks down the numbers.

“Corn harvest advanced ten points and is now 83 percent finished, compared to 91 percent one year ago and 75 percent for the five-year average. Soybeans harvested are now 76 percent complete, up 18 points from from one week ago, well behind last year’s 91 percent and just slightly behind the five-year average of 77 percent,” says Schleusener.   .

Topsoil moisture in the West Southwest District was one percent very short, 15 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Local subsoil moisture was one percent very short, 16 percent short, 77 percent adequate and six percent surplus.

The West Southwest District saw 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork last week, compared to the statewide average of 5.3.