Warm and unusually dry conditions across Illinois continue to provide favorable harvesting opportunities for farmers, including those throughout Wayne County and surrounding Southern Illinois counties.
According to the latest USDA Crop Progress Report released Monday, 74 percent of the state’s corn crop and 81 percent of soybeans had been harvested as of Sunday, October 25th, both slightly ahead of their five-year averages.
Corn harvesting is one percentage point ahead of the five-year average of 73 percent, while soybean harvesting is four percentage points ahead of the average of 77 percent.
Illinois farmers are also ahead of the national corn harvest pace of 60 percent, while the nationwide soybean harvest stands at 79 percent.
The USDA reported an average of 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork during the past week, allowing farmers to continue making progress with few weather-related interruptions.
The statewide average temperature was 57.7 degrees, or 5.3 degrees above normal. No measurable precipitation was recorded during the reporting period, leaving rainfall 0.76 inches below normal.
The prolonged dry conditions are also raising concerns about soil moisture.
According to the USDA, 44 percent of Illinois topsoil moisture was rated short or very short, while 45 percent of subsoil moisture fell into those categories.
Despite the dry conditions, the state’s corn crop remains in relatively good shape, with 46 percent rated good and another 14 percent rated excellent. Another 29 percent was rated fair, while 11 percent was rated poor or very poor.
Meanwhile, farmers are continuing to plant winter wheat. Statewide, 70 percent of the winter wheat crop has been planted, just behind the five-year average of 71 percent.
Winter wheat emergence reached 40 percent, compared with the average of 41 percent.
With much of the corn and soybean harvest nearing completion, farmers across Southern Illinois continue to take advantage of the extended stretch of dry weather while monitoring soil moisture conditions heading into November.