Illinois
After the late harvest in 2009 – with some producers working into January – many producers may be anxious to start corn harvest early this year. Reports are that recent high temperatures across Illinois provided the maturity push and drying that some producers needed in the last stages of preparing for that early harvest.

The above-average rainfall was timely for some producers, as it helped fill soybean pods, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Illinois field office.

Illinois saw 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork last week. The corn crop has advanced to 73 percent dented, compared to the average of 45. Thirteen percent of the corn crop was mature. Soybeans have started to turn yellow, and are rated at 62 percent good to excellent condition.

While ag experts predict record corn and soybean crops across the nation, the crop in central Illinois might fall short of last year’s yields. The USDA estimates Illinois’ corn crop will yield 180 bushels per acre, up six from last year. State soybean yields are expected to average 49 bushes, about three more than last year.

But Kim Craig, who works for Bell Enterprises, a grain elevator that’s organized a plot tour for the past 15 years, said farmers in Tazewell, Woodford and McLean counties reported conditions that could cause shorter yields. He said the tour found problem areas because of last season’s wet fall.

Topsoil moisture was rated at 9 percent very short, 20 short, 63 adequate and 8 surplus. Temperatures averaged 75.8 degrees statewide, just 2 above average. Precipitation averaged 1.01 inch, 0.3 above average, with heavier rainfall in the southern districts.

Last week farmers were busy mowing and baling hay, and spraying fungicides and insecticides.
By Deborah Behrends
Illinois Correspondent

Indiana
Considering the wet weather most of Indiana had in the spring, the soils are becoming dry and parched as producers head into harvest season. The Indiana NASS field office says corn and soybean crops have been maturing quickly because of the warm, dry weather.

Betsy Bower, agronomist for Ceres Solutions at Terre Haute, said the weather has definitely affected harvest. “Weather has had an impact on crops. Corn yields in the early harvested corn look to be good, but somewhat lower than last year with yields around 190 to 200 bushels per acre,” she said.

“Some of the better corn is 220 bushels per acre. Our grain fill time period was shortened by the warm weather this year. Bean yield reports are okay to good, from what I have heard. Good beans are in the 50s, but some sandy soil beans were around 35 bushels per acre.

“The late-planted corn and soybeans are trying to finish filling ears and pods respectively, during the heat and the dry,” said Bower. “Grey leaf spot also had an impact on several cornfields this summer. Some growers decided to protect with fungicides, some did not.”

While NASS reports Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) continues to appear in many soybean fields, it also reports 95 percent of the intended soybean acreage is setting pods, compared with 74 last year and 85 for the five-year average.

Ninety-one percent of the corn is in dough, compared with 63 last year and 78 for the five-year average.

Additional good news reports the third cutting of alfalfa hay is at 81 percent complete, compared with 42 last year and 63 for the five-year average. Bower said intended wheat planting is way up this year because of price: “It is hard to find any wheat seed that is not confirmed.”
By Susan Hayhurst
Indiana Correspondent

Ohio
Warmer weather conditions continue to dominate Ohio’s weather pattern, bringing the state two weeks ahead of schedule in growing-degree days as of Aug. 23. Scattered rain showers provided much needed moisture to some areas, while those areas not receiving rain showed signs of heat stress in crops and livestock.

Early crop maturation is especially seen in the state’s corn, with 91 percent in dough, a full 20 percent ahead of 2009. That trend continues with 58 percent of corn dented compared to only 15 at this time in 2009 and 24 in the five-year average. Similarly, 15 percent of corn silage has already been harvested, compared to only 5 at this time last year.

While the state’s soybean crop is setting pods 4 percent ahead of 2009 (95 percent to date), those numbers are actually 1 percent behind the 5-year average.

Alfalfa numbers are also running ahead of schedule, with 80 percent of the third cutting complete, compared to 65 in 2009. Additionally, 16 percent of fourth-cutting alfalfa is complete – 9 ahead of both 2009 numbers and the five-year average.

Summer fruit production is coming in early as well, with 82 percent of summer apples harvested (8 ahead of 2009) and 84 percent of peaches harvested, compared to only 65 in 2009.

But while soybean and corn crops continue to do well with 75 percent of corn in fair to good condition and 76 percent of soybeans ranked the same (up 3 and 4 percent, respectively, from the previous week), other crops and livestock experienced slight drops in condition.

While 81 percent of livestock and 85 percent of apples are considered in fair to good condition, those numbers represent a 2 percent drop from the previous week. Similarly, pasture conditions dropped 5 percent from the previous week to 76 in fair to good condition, and hay dropped 7 percent, to 75 being scored in fair to good condition.
By Jane Houin
Ohio Correspondent

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