PEORIA, Ill. – In the 1920s golden era of vaudeville theater, if something was said to “play in Peoria” it would generally mean that it would be successful virtually anywhere in the United States. If that term were to be applied to the 2021 corn and soybean crop, farmers across the country would be anticipating a large and successful bounty based on early planting and emergence observations in Peoria County.

“Corn and soybeans are 95 percent planted in Peoria County, and overall the crop looks good,” reported Patrick Kirchhofer, manager of the Peoria County Farm Bureau, on June 1. “Some heat and continued moisture will keep the crops progressing.”

Kirchhofer and Peoria farmers didn’t have to wait long for the heat he had hoped for; the area emerged from a brief cold front to see temperatures soar into the mid-to-upper 80s beginning on June 3 and continuing throughout the weekend. The prior week saw some heavy, sporadic rainfall events in central Illinois, with the region recording an average 1.29 inches of precipitation, or 0.11 above normal, during the week ending May 31.

“There are a few pond holes in fields that will have to be replanted if they dry out in time. As usual, rains have been sporadic this spring and can vary extensively in measured precipitation from one mile to the next,” Kirchhofer said.

The Peoria farm bureau manager’s estimate on corn planted in the county mirrored USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) statewide estimate of 95 percent planted, according to the June 1 Illinois Crop Progress and Condition report. Illinois corn planted is 11 percent above the state five-year average of 84 percent, with 75 percent emergence, which is on par with past years. Nationally, 81 percent of planted corn had emerged, which is 11 percent greater than average. 

Nationwide, 84 percent of soybeans had been planted in the top 18 soybean producing states, according to NASS, with 62 percent emergence. This was 20 percent above the national five-year average soybean emergence rate, and 12 percent behind Illinois’ 74 percent soybean emergence rate for 2021.

The Illinois corn crop condition was rated as 4 percent poor or very poor, 16 percent fair, 67 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Soybean condition was rated 4 percent poor or very poor, 19 percent fair, 67 percent good and 10 percent excellent in the Prairie State.

A breakdown of corn and soybean planting, emergence and condition in the other primary Farm World readership states as of June 1 revealed:

In Indiana, 94 percent of corn was planted compared to the five-year average of 76 percent, with 76 percent emergence. The corn crop was rated 22 percent fair, 65 percent good and 9 percent excellent. The Indiana soybean crop was 86 percent planted compared to the five-year average of 61 percent planted. Soybean condition was not rated.

In Ohio, 92 percent of corn was planted compared to the five year average of 72 percent. The corn crop, 70 percent emerged, was rated 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 71 percent good and 8 percent excellent. The Ohio soybean crop was 84 percent planted, compared to the five-year average of 56 percent planted. Soybean condition was not rated.

In Michigan, 95 percent of the corn crop was planted compared to the five-year average of 73 percent, with 79 percent emergence. Corn condition was rated 3 percent poor or very poor, 19 percent fair, 71 percent good and 8 percent very good. Soybeans planted were at 91 percent, compared to the five-year average of 58 percent. Sixty seven percent of soybeans had emerged. Soybean condition was not rated.

In Kentucky, 99 percent of the corn crop had been planted compared to the five-year average of 92 percent, with 77 percent emergence. Corn condition 

was rated 3 percent poor or very poor, 11 percent fair, 74 percent good and 12 percent excellent. The state’s farmers had planted 66 percent of their soybeans, compared to the five-year average of 47 percent. Soybean condition was rated 2 percent poor or very poor, 17 percent fair, 69 percent good and 12 percent very good.

In Tennessee, the corn crop was 98 percent planted compared to the five-year average of 95 percent, with 67 percent emergence. Corn condition was rated 5 percent poor or very poor, 21 percent fair, 54 percent good and 20 percent very good. The soybean crop was 66 percent planted compared to the five-year average of 57 percent, with 47 percent emergence. The state soybean crop condition was not rated.

In Iowa, the corn crop was 99 percent planted compared to the five-year average of 94 percent, with 87 percent emergence. Corn condition was rated 1 percent poor, 18 percent fair, 62 percent good and 19 percent very good. Soybeans planted had reached 93 percent compared to the five-year average of 78 percent; 72 percent had emerged. Iowa’s first soybean condition rating of the season showed 1 percent rated poor, 23 percent fair, 60 percent good and 16 percent excellent, according to NASS.

Meanwhile, back in Peoria County and elsewhere across the Corn Belt, farmers were taking advantage of the recent hot spell to cut hay. “Farmers will look at the forecast when cutting hay, as three to four sunny continuous drying days are needed from the time it is mowed to being baled,” Kirchhofer said.