Monday’s crop progress report showed development is behind in key production states like Illinois, with only 15-percent of the corn moving into pollination, lagging the five-year average by 25%. In central Illinois, McLean farmer Brad Wade says they planted corn the end of April, which is later than normal. However, that crop has caught up and the soybeans are also on track. So he sees good potential if the weather cooperates.
He says, “So if we can grab an inch of rain here and there just like everybody else it’s be goldilocks for us, just right. I think we’re on schedule for a regular timed harvest around here, probably start the 10th of September or so.”
Farther south in the Delta, St. Charles, Arkansas farmer Heath Whitmore says it was a struggle to get the row crops in this spring so they’re behind, but his rice development is ahead of the last few years. However, he says his rice crop is a bit ahead and has good yield potential. He says, “Rice is right on track maybe even a little ahead of what its been the last couple of years, maybe just a week or two.”
USDA says 4% of the rice crop is headed in Arkansas verses the average of 7%, while nationally 21% is headed. That is right in line with the norm.
