Illinois farmers have started bringing in the 2026 corn crop, with the USDA reporting 3% of the state’s corn harvested as of September 6.
That is ahead of both last year’s 2% and the five-year average of 1%. Corn maturity reached 29%, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 27%.
Soybeans are also progressing toward harvest, with 24% dropping leaves compared with the five-year average of 19%.
Hot and dry weather provided farmers with 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork last week. The statewide average temperature was 82.8 degrees, more than 12 degrees above normal, while rainfall averaged just two-hundredths of an inch.
The lack of rainfall is beginning to show in soil moisture levels. Thirty-nine percent of topsoil and 39% of subsoil were rated short or very short.
Illinois corn was rated 55% good to excellent, while 57% of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent.