Yields could lack consistency

Central Illinois farmers may experience some good yields this fall but likely not the consistency they saw last year.
“There will be some good spots and bad spots,” Pioneer agronomist Cody Pettit told the Central Illinois Farm Network last week at the Farm Progress Show.
The planting dates differ from last year as plenty of corn went in the ground in the early part of April compared to 2022 when over 60 percent of the corn crop was planted in early to mid-May.
“This year, we had a 50-day planting window so it’s going to be variable,” notes Pettit.
This week’s heat and the hot weather from two weeks ago is progressing the corn crop faster.
“We had that severe to minor drought wherever you were located at in Illinois during the first part of the growing season so I think every rain event we’ve gotten has kind of kept us hanging on a little bit.”
Soybeans are turning yellow after they had a stressful season. First they experienced cold and dry conditions before finally getting rain in late June and early July.
“We went from one stress to another and we picked up a lot of root rots,” explained Pettit.
While there will be good soybean yields, Pettit warns growers there could be zeroes in fields where the low-lying areas are.
Pettit will speak to farmers Tuesday evening (Sept. 5) during the Atkins Seed Service customer appreciation plot night and dinner near Weston.
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