The latest USDA crop progress report just out shows more than half of Illinois farmers, 56-percent, say their corn crop is in poor to very poor condition.
The worst region is still to our deep south.
Illinois soybean farmers are better off with 41-percent saying their crop is poor to very poor. The rest saying things are fair to even excellent.
ILLINOIS Crop Condition (July 15)
Corn
26% Very Poor
30% Poor
33% Fair
10% Good
1% Excellent
Soybeans
16% Very Poor
25% Poor
42% Fair
16% Good
1% Excellent
Alfalfa
18% Very Poor
32% Poor
34% FAir
16% Good
0% Excellent
Pasture
48% Very Poor
35% Poor
15% Fair
2% Good
0% Excellent
Sorghum
43% Very Poor
36% Poor
18% Fair
3% Good
0% Excellent
In Iowa the situation is better but deteriorating.
While 27-percent say their corn crop is in poor to very poor condition, a third say the crop is fair and another third say their corn is good.
Most Iowa soybean farmers, a full 80-percent, say their crop is in at least fair condition.
IOWA Crop Conditions (July 15)
Corn
8% Very Poor
19% Poor
37% Fair
32% Good
4% Excellent
Soybeans
5% Very Poor
15% Poor
42% Fair
34% Good
4% Excellent
Oats
4% Very Poor
18% Poor
34% Fair
38% Good
6% Excellent
Hay (all)
15% Very Poor
24% Poor
40% FAir
20% Good
1% Excellent
Pasture and Range
26% Very Poor
36% Poor
29% Fair
8% Good
1% Excellent
The drought is still taking its toll. 60-percent of northwest Illinois and east central Iowa farmers say their soil moisture is very short.
Very few say it's adequate.
Quad City area farmers are also seeing their sub-soil moisture dry up. That's a concern for this winter and next spring.