Illinois Fall Harvest Well Underway

It's been a tough season for local farmers.  From too much rainfall towards the end of Spring and beginning of Summer, to not enough rain during the months of August and September.  Yield will most likely be affected, but the warmer weather did allow farmers to begin their soybean harvest about two weeks early. 


The weekly Illinois Crop Progress and Condition Report does show corn harvested is a bit behind schedule when compared to last year and the five year average.  This most likely a result of farmers either having to replant their corn at the beginning of the season, or having to plant a different variety.


Soybeans harvested are actually doing fairly well throughout the state and are ahead of last year's progress and the five year average.


The most recent rain over the weekend probably put some farmers a little behind schedule where fields were flooded.  This occurred mostly southeast of the immediate area where training thunderstorms last Saturday and Saturday night brought nearly nine inches of rain in a few isolated spots.


The weather this week will cooperate with the harvest and the wind will help dry out any fields that may still be a little too wet for farm equipment to move through.


The next chance for rain arrives late Saturday evening and into Sunday.