Wheat harvest begins in state
Illinois winter wheat harvest is underway.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3 percent...
Illinois winter wheat harvest is underway.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3 percent of the crop was harvested by Monday. This compares to the five-year average of 9 percent.
Illinois farmers anticipate harvesting 660,000 acres of wheat for grain this summer, up 8 percent from last year.
The winter wheat yield is forecast at 78 bushels per acre, down 1 bushel from 2021. Production is forecast at 51.5 million bushels, up 7 percent from last year.
Condition of the crop was rated 1 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 50 percent good and 20 percent excellent.
Meanwhile, corn and soybeans are growing.
Corn emerged reached 96 percent, compared to the average of 89 percent. Corn condition was rated 2 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 62 percent good and 15 percent excellent.
Beans planted reached 94 percent, compared to the average of 87 percent. Beans emerged reached 88 percent, compared to the average of 75 percent.
Soybean condition was rated 3 percent poor, 21 percent fair, 63 percent good 13 percent excellent.
Statewide, the average temperature last week was 69.1 degrees, 1.4 degrees below normal. Locally, the average temperature was slightly more than 73.2 degrees.
Precipitation averaged .99 inches, .07 inches degrees above normal. Crawford County saw more rain than much of the state; a little more than 1.17 inches was reported here.
Topsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent very short, 11 percent short, 85 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 86 percent adequate and 5 percent surplus.
The top tier of counties in northern Illinois were all listed as “abnormally dry” by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Most of Douglas and the western half of Coles County were also in that category.
There were 5.4 days suitable for field work last week.
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