Nearly one-third of Illinois corn harvested

Temperatures remained below normal for yet another week, averaging 56.6 degrees statewide. The average for the time period is 61.9 degrees. Light frost was seen in some areas at the end of the week.
Most areas of the state received above-average rainfall, with isolated areas receiving as much as four inches. In other areas, rains were below normal. The average for the state was 1.23 inches, 0.59 inches above normal. Days suitable for fieldwork were 5.4. Topsoil moisture was 15 percent very short, 34 percent short, 48 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.
Harvest for corn and soybeans continued, as did fall tillage and fertilizer applications on harvested fields.
Corn in the mature stage was 91 percent, above the five-year average of 79 percent. Corn harvested was 32 percent, below the five-year average of 36 percent. Corn condition was rated 5 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 37 percent fair, 36 percent good and 6 percent excellent.
Soybeans shedding leaves jumped from 61 percent the previous week to 77 percent. Only 12 percent of the crop has been harvested. This compares to the five-year average of 27 percent. Soybean condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 42 percent good and 8 percent excellent.
Winter wheat seeded was at 9 percent, up only two points from the previous week, and below the five-year average of 13 percent. Two percent of the wheat crop had emerged, right on target with the five-year average.