cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

The 2024 growing season was somewhat unusual in Illinois, with overall conditions good enough to produce record-high corn and soybean yields. The September estimate of corn yield in Illinois is 222 bushels per acre, down three bushels from the August estimate. Soybean yield is projected to be 65 bushels per acre, one bushel less than the August estimate. These declines may reflect the increasing dryness in the state over the past weeks. With early-planted corn and soybean at or near maturity,…

We had another beautiful early fall week across the state. Average temperatures this week were in the 60s statewide, between 2 and 6 degrees below normal. Most places saw low temperatures dip into the 40s last weekend, and a few in the 30s including 38 in Stockton and 39 in Normal. There were even some reports of patchy frost as far south as Macon County, reminding us that we are now in climatological fall. September to date has been 1 to 4 degrees cooler than normal following an August that was just slightly warmer than normal statewide.…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Severely Dry (soil is very dry, water bodies are very low, vegetation is stressed)
The 2024 growing season is ending on the dry side in northeast Illinois. Aerial cover crop seed application has started, but limited harvest activity has taken place in the region. I continue to be surprised at the difference in maturity and color of crops across and within fields.…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Dry (soil is dry, plants may be browning or stressed, water bodies are low)
Another dry week.  In travels across northeast Illinois we see both green corn and soy fields, and in others, plants that have browned, dropped leaves and are likely only weeks from harvest. We have had reports of hand shelled corn samples near 30% moisture. For areas that had heavier soils,…