Illinois crops appear to be maturing ahead of schedule

(The Center Square) – It may be an early harvest in Illinois this year as crops are maturing earlier than normal.

The latest crop progress and condition report from the United States Department of Agriculture shows 24% of the corn crop is mature. That is compared to the 5-year average of 11% at this time.

Corn condition was rated 3% very poor, 5% poor, 21% fair, 54% good, and 17% excellent.

USDA statistician Mark Schleusener said soybeans are ahead of schedule as well.

“Fourteen percent of acres were dropping leaves compared to three normally and we received a few reports of soybeans being harvested,” said Schleusener.

Soybean condition was rated 3% very poor, 7% poor, 22% fair, 56% good, and 12% excellent.

With harvest season approaching, Mark Baker with Stateline Farm Rescue told WIFR TV in Rockford that Illinois motorists should exercise patience.

“We don’t want to be on the roads holding you up anymore than we want to be there,” said Baker. “Just give us a little bit of room and we’ll get off the roads and get into the field.”

Transportation incidents, including tractor overturns, are the leading cause of death for farmworkers, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In Illinois, between 1999 and 2019, there were 82 roadway-related deaths involving agriculture equipment.

The USDA estimates that Illinois farmers planted nearly 11 million acres of corn this season, and 10.7 million acres of soybeans.