Fall harvest is progressing well ahead of schedule across much of southeastern Illinois, with farmers reporting some outstanding corn and soybean yields.
During Wednesday's WSJD Valley Update, Wabash Valley Service Company's Mike Wilson said nearly ideal weather conditions have allowed farmers to make significant progress, particularly in counties south of U.S. Route 50.
Wilson, who has traveled throughout the company's 11-county service area over the past three weeks, said Wabash, Lawrence and Edwards counties are getting close to wrapping up harvest, with the exception of some river bottom ground.
He said another couple of days of favorable weather could put Wabash County very close to completion.
Wilson attributed the early harvest to favorable spring planting conditions, followed by hot, dry weather in late August and early September that accelerated crop maturity.
Some farmers began harvesting as much as two weeks earlier than normal. Wilson said that, depending on upcoming rainfall, many could finish by October 15th, well ahead of the traditional late-October target.
And the yields have been impressive.
Wilson reported widespread corn yields of 200 to 220 bushels per acre or better, with one National Corn Growers Association trial field in Gallatin County averaging 300 bushels per acre.
Soybean yields have also been strong, with some irrigated fields producing 90 to 95 bushels per acre.
Wilson said farmers are pleasantly surprised by both the quality and quantity of this year's crop.
While grain prices have experienced some typical harvest-season pressure, Wilson said commodity prices have held up better than expected, with corn around five dollars per bushel and soybeans generally above twelve dollars.
He also noted that harvest delays across the northern Corn Belt, where excessive rainfall has kept some farmers out of their fields, may be helping support local grain prices.
As for the possibility of rain this weekend, Wilson said three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a half would likely delay soybean harvest by only about three days because of the area's extremely dry soil conditions.
However, he cautioned that prolonged delays could increase the risk of soybean pods splitting open and losing grain.
Overall, Wilson described this year's harvest as one of the more favorable in recent memory, with excellent weather, an early start and exceptionally strong yields across the Wabash Valley.