The 2026 fall harvest is nearly complete across Illinois, with farmers turning their attention to preparations for next year’s growing season.
According to the latest USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, 93 percent of the state’s corn crop and 96 percent of soybeans had been harvested as of Sunday, November 8th. Both crops are running ahead of their five-year average harvest pace.
Corn harvesting is two percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 91 percent, while soybean harvesting is four points ahead of the average of 92 percent.
Winter wheat planting is also nearing completion, with 93 percent of the crop planted, compared to the five-year average of 89 percent. Approximately 71 percent of winter wheat has emerged, ahead of the average of 67 percent.
The USDA rated 62 percent of the state’s winter wheat crop in good to excellent condition, with 30 percent rated fair, 5 percent poor and 3 percent very poor.
Illinois farmers had an average of 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending November 8th.
Temperatures across the state averaged 53 degrees, approximately 6.5 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged six-tenths of an inch, about 15-hundredths of an inch below normal.
Despite the progress in harvesting, soil moisture remains a concern in portions of the state.
Topsoil moisture was rated 14 percent very short, 30 percent short, 51 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
Subsoil moisture was rated 17 percent very short, 32 percent short, 47 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
Those figures indicate that 44 percent of Illinois topsoil and 49 percent of subsoil moisture supplies are rated short or very short.
With the majority of corn and soybeans now out of the fields, many Illinois producers are shifting their focus to equipment maintenance, soil management and planning for the 2027 planting season.