Cool weather and increased rainfall this week in Illinois helped farmers in the soybean and corn department.
Crop statistician Mark Schleusener has the latest numbers.
“Twenty-two percent of corn acres have reached the silking stage in Illinois. That compares to 19 percent a year ago and 21 percent for the five year average. The condition of the corn crop was rated seven percent very poor to poor, 21 percent fair and 72 percent good to excellent,” says Schleusener.
“For soybeans, 18 percent acres are blooming, compared to 12 percent a year ago and 15 percent normally. The condition of the soybean crop is rated seven percent very poor to poor, 22 percent fair and 71 percent good to excellent.”
Corn in the West Southwest District is silking at 44 percent. Local soybeans are emerging at 97 percent and blooming at 13 percent.
The local district averaged just over five days suitable for fieldwork, similar to the rest of the state.
Topsoil was 14 percent very short, 15 percent short, 70 percent adequate and one percent surplus. Subsoil was 13 percent very short, 17 percent short, 69 percent adequate and one percent surplus.
The average temperature for the local district was around 70 degrees, nearly five degrees cooler than normal. Local precipitation totaled almost two-and-a-half inches, an increase of 1.66 inches.