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| Illinois’ average corn yield could grow by two bushels |
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| By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The USDA projected last week that total U.S. corn production for 2007 will be 13.3 billion bushels, up 2 percent from their August projection and 26 percent above 2006 totals.
Illinois’ average corn yield projection was raised by two bushels to 180 bushels per acre from last month’s report, putting the state’s corn producers on pace for a 2.43 billion bushel harvest.
USDA raised the bar on yield projections due to heavy rainfall in the Corn Belt and central Great Plains that provided much-needed moisture to cornfields, including those in central Illinois.
As of Sept. 9, 12 percent of the Illinois’ corn crop was harvested - mostly in the southern region.
Mark Lambert, director of communications for the Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA), said harvest is just beginning in central Illinois, where farmers enjoyed a near-perfect growing season and are expecting to reap huge harvests. But farmers in other parts of the state weren’t as fortunate, Lambert said.
“The majority of the state is looking at a very good corn crop with above-normal yields. With the increased corn acreage planted this year, we should be able to meet the needs of all potential customers,” Lambert told Farm World. “However, not everyone is looking at a perfect growing season. Farmers in much of southern Illinois are harvesting a crop devastated by drought. Some growers in west-central Illinois had their crop knocked flat by storms and high winds.”
Some experts are expressing concern for storage issues in anticipation of record or near-record yields from the 85.4 million acres of corn planted to be harvested for grain that USDA projects. Lambert said storage could be a concern and the rural Illinois landscape should be dotted with temporary grain storage sites and “corn mountains” again this harvest season.
“We have had several record crops in recent years so growers and the grain handling industry have been building additional storage. Some spot shortages may occur, however we have become very adept at short-term storage to handle any storage crunch that may occur,” Lambert said.
Farmers in northern Illinois should begin harvesting their crops in earnest this week, Lambert said.
This farm news was published in the Sept. 19, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
| 9/19/2007 |
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