Corn, soybean quality lags behind national average

Illinois farmers continue to try to catch up after a rainy spring

Central Illinois soybeans race to catch up with their average pace in the face of heavy rains. (Shutterstock)

By Ted Cox

Corn and soybeans continue to make gains after a rain-delayed planting season, but the quality of the crop lags behind the national average, according to the latest Crop Progress report.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest report, released Monday, found that as of the end of last week the percentage of corn that was silking had almost doubled from the week before, up to 36 percent from the previous 19 percent. But that paled next to the 96 percent of the crop that was silking as of this time last year, and the 84 percent average over the last five years.

The percentage of soybeans that were blooming jumped from 12 percent to 30 percent last week, but that was well short of the 87 percent a year ago and the five-year average of 72 percent.

Even so, the crops were making gains. The 36 percent of Illinois corn that was silking actually topped the 35 percent overall in the 18 states that produce 92 percent of the nation’s corn crop. The 30 percent of Illinois soybeans that were blooming, however, still trailed the 40 percent overall in the 18 states that produce 95 percent of the nation’s crop.

Quality was off, too. Some 39 percent of the Illinois corn crop was rated good and an equal 39 percent rated fair, but 47 percent of the national crop was rated good and just 30 percent fair, while 10 percent of the national crop was considered excellent, compared with just 4 percent of the Illinois crop.

Soybeans were actually closer to the U.S. average, but then again Illinois is the top state for the crop. As of the end of last week, 40 percent of the Illinois crop was considered good, 37 percent fair, compared to 46 and 34 nationally. Some 5 percent of the state soybean crop was rated excellent, close to the 8 percent national average.

After a brutal spring planting season that saw flooding almost across the state that delayed planting, farmers are racing to catch up and get their crops in ahead of the inevitable first frost in the fall.