The main story in southern Illinois this week has been wheat harvest. Despite many farms still having fields unplanted or in need of replanting, the hot weather has dried the wheat, and combines are rolling. Wheat yields are highly variable this year, largely due to the more than 20 inches of rain since March. Fields that are well-drained and typically good for wheat still yielded decently this year. However, fields with marginal drainage—those that are usually acceptable for wheat—had many flooded-out spots, which quickly brought down field averages.

On the bright side, test weights are still good where fungicide was applied. The downside is that, on average, yields are about 5–20% lower than last year. Some parts of fields are still hitting 100+ bushels per acre, but others are coming in at 40 bu/ac. Averages of 70–85 bu/ac seem common.

Hot weather is also drying out the ground, despite pockets of standing water and spotty convective storms. If the weather holds over the next week, double-crop soybeans and the remaining first-crop fields should get planted or replanted.

Moderately Wet (soil is damp, standing water may be present in low areas, water bodies are full)