July 18, 2023

Varying crop conditions in Illinois, US, after dry June

Crop conditions have varied across Illinois, the United States, following a dry June and scattered rainfall in July.

Southwest Illinois farmer Nick Harre of Nashville told Brownfield crops went over a month with no rain, and when moisture returned a couple weeks ago, it came at the expense of severe wind and hail.

"Our earliest corn planted the beginning of April has tasseled and it's had its fungicide application," Harre said. "We'll get grain out of it, but I certainly don't think it will reach its maximum yield just because such a long period of its life thus far as has been drought stricken."

But he added that winter wheat harvest wrapped up in late June and that same drought boosted those yields.

"It wasn't just a little better than years past, it was about 12 bushels to the acre farm wide better than anything we'd ever had," Harre noted.

He said double crop soybeans were planted in very dry ground, but timely rains have made for a good stand and August weather will be a determining factor for first crop soybean yields.

As of July 16, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has rated Illinois corn 41% good to excellent with 70% silking and 7% in the dough stage. Soybeans are rated 40% good to excellent with 61% blooming and 19% setting pods. 95% of winter wheat harvest is finished and the third cutting of alfalfa hay is 20% complete.

- Brownfield Ag News