Illinois Corn Harvest Ahead of Schedule, Soybean Harvest Behind

Farmers are ahead of pace for corn harvest in Illinois after combining nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of the crop last week.

Corn harvest as of Tuesday (Oct. 11) was 62 percent complete statewide, 11 percent ahead of the five-year average.

“A productive harvest week allowed us to finish corn and prepare for soybeans,” said Steve Ayers, a CropWatcher from Champaign (Champaign County).

Nationwide, corn harvest on Tuesday was 35 percent complete, 3 percent behind the average pace. Corn harvest progress was at just 14 percent in Minnesota, 19 percent in Iowa, 23 percent in Nebraska and 38 percent in Indiana.

Meanwhile, soybean harvest remains slightly behind schedule due to scattered rain in recent weeks along with reports of green patches still in some fields.

“Producers are trying to get into bean fields, which are not completely cooperative with harvest intentions,” said Todd Easton, a CropWatcher from Charleston (Coles County).

Beans harvest as of Tuesday was 39 percent complete in Illinois, 7 percent behind the average pace, and 44 percent complete nationwide, 3 points off the average pace.