New figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show Illinois’ corn and soybean crops are lagging behind the national average. As of July 21st, only 4-percent of the Illinois corn crop was rated excellent, with 39-percent rated good, 39-percent fair, 14-percent poor and 4-percent very poor.
Illinois soybeans are also running behind the national average of 72-percent excellent or good. In Illinois only 5-percent of the soybeans are rated excellent and 40-percent good. Thirty-seven percent of the beans were rated fair, 13-percent poor, and 4-percent very poor.
Thirty-six percent of the Illinois corn is in the silk stage – which is a little better than the national average. And 30-percent of the soybeans have bloomed with 2-percent setting pods.
Of course, a very wet spring delayed planting in Illinois.
