The harvest is quickly wrapping up in Illinois with 94% of the soybeans and 88% of the corn out of the field. And this fall has produced some mixed and surprising yield results for farmers.
In central Illinois planting was late for Alex Head and the corn was hit by hot dry conditions during pollination. So, the harvest was a pleasant surprise. Head, who farms near Blue Mound says yields were right at his APH, “We did see some tip back actually, I mean, it took probably a little bit off of the top end yield. But I mean, overall, the corn no complaint with the yield. So then, then good so far what we’ve done and everybody I’ve talked to has been happy with their corn yields.”
In northern Illinois Wade McLaughlin had similar results with timely rains and very little disease pressure. The Alpha farmer says, “We’ve been very pleased with our corn yields this year. They’re not record setting but well above APH. I would say anywhere from 10 to 20 bushel above APH.” And his test weights also added to the yield. “I would say the majority has run between 59 and 61. So real pleased with our test weights.”
Farther south, Windsor farmer and market analyst Matt Bennett says those trends were true on his farm. So, he thinks the statewide corn yields could set a new record. “Yeah, I think Illinois will be better than last year is it going to break an all-time record. The final yield, I believe in 18 was 209. It was printed at 210. At one point that growing season marketing year you name it, but do we get to 210 or above? I think it’s a very possible situation.”
Soybeans were the opposite with yields somewhat disappointing compared to expectations due to too much late season rain and diseases like SDS or Sudden Death Syndrome. Bennet says, “A lot of beans in our part of the world were running from the mid 60s to mid 80s. You know, there was some mid 80s and we had some of them.” However, Head says bean yields were below expectations. “So they’re, they’re good. About above APH and above but not exceptional like we once thought they might have been.”
So Bennett, who thought soybeans yields in Illinois had a chance of breaking the record, now think’s they’ll miss that high water mark.
