August 10, 2007

 

Central Illinois' 2007 corn yield seen at 190.57 bushels per acre

 

 

A private group that owns several grain elevators forecast central Illinois' 2007 corn yield at 190.57 bushels per acre, based on 280 samples taken from 140 fields surveyed.

 

The group, Bell Enterprises Inc., (BEI) which owns grain elevators in Congerville, Deer Creek, Goodfield and Mackinaw, Ill., released the results from its 2007 corn yield tour of Mclean, Woodford and Tazewell counties in central Illinois Thursday (August 9).

 

In 2006, BEI estimated corn yields at 182.11 bushels an acre from 216 samples. In 2005, the company calculated area yields at 151.99 bushels per acre on 196 samples.

 

The tour reported ear counts important to note, with a net increase of 1,630 ears per acre, up 6 percent from last year's tour. The ear count appears to be one of the key factors affecting the net increase in tour estimates this year over last year.

 

Kim Craig, the BEI tour leader, said tour participants found record populations and ear counts. Craig said participants were surprised that ears were a little smaller than expected.

 

The shorter ear sizes were seen as a result of heat and a lack of moisture in recent weeks, as the conditions have taken a toll on ear length and the number of kernels, Craig said. This is a definite pull back from expectations just 3-weeks ago, Craig added.

 

Nevertheless, the stalks are in excellent shape amid the greater number of new double and triple stack seed varieties planted this year, he said. Craig added that from the air, this is one of best looking crops he has seen in a while.

 

For the one-day tour that was conducted Tuesday, 68 percent of the participants did not expect the crop to be matured by September 1, with 91 percent suggesting additional rain would add yield to the crop.

 

The subjective survey of tour participants reported soil moisture 18 percent poor, 82 percent good and 0 percent excellent.

 

Stalk quality was reported 23 percent good, and 77 percent excellent. Late planted crops were rated in the best condition and early planted varieties faired worse.