Farmers feel fortunate so far

BEASON – Logan County farmer Jim Brown feels fortunate as his crops look good since he missed most of the extreme rainfall in recent weeks.

“The corn just looks tremendous,” Brown told The Central Illinois Farm Network last week.

Despite a few wet spots in soybean fields, Brown expects really good crops this fall. He never really experienced standing water. Brown feels the recent moisture should carry the corn through the rest of the season, but soybeans will still need more rain in August.

“There will probably be a lot of soybeans being sprayed with the good prices we are looking at.”

Jesse Mackinson, who lives west of Pontiac and farms in Livingston County, can’t complain about crop conditions in his neck of the woods. He looks forward to what should be a very promising fall.

“We’ve missed the really heavy rains but go the good rain that the crops love,” Mackinson said.

While Mackinson believes his corn looks outstanding, the jury is still out on soybeans.

“We’ll see,” stated Mackinson. “They need a little more heat.”

Matt Johnson with Graymont Cooperative notes growers have been fortunate in Livingston County with decent weather conditions so far this summer. A great stand of corn was established back in the spring with timely rain and many producers are taking advantage of the good crops now by applying fungicides.

Soybeans had some early problems this year but are turning out alright. Graymont Cooperative has a plot along Route 116 west of Pontiac and Johnson has been impressed with what he sees out there.

“It is shaping-up to be a good plot and we look forward to seeing what it yields.”