Iroquois County Farmers Start Harvesting Soybeans Amid Drought Conditions

Harvest season has begun in Iroquois County, Illinois. Local farmers started harvesting soybeans on September 15th. Following a dry spell of nearly four weeks without measurable rainfall, fields received between 1 and 1.2 inches of rain during the early morning hours of Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor's latest release, which reflected conditions through September 15th, the northern part of Iroquois County was designated as abnormally dry. Most cornfields in the area are in late R5 or have reached R6 physiological maturity. In unripe corn, the milk line ranges from approximately 50% down the kernel to nearly complete.

Some local farmers have already begun harvesting their crops, but most soybean fields range from R7 to R8, or beginning maturity to full maturity. Later-maturing fields remain at R6, or the full seed stage. Differences between fungicide-treated and untreated corn are visible when viewed from the air with a drone.

Local prices for September 17th were $4.93 for nearby corn, $4.87 for new-crop corn, $12.87 for nearby soybeans, and $12.32 for new-crop soybeans.