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ILSoyAdvisor.com is reaching out to farmers across the state to get their preharvest predictions and postharvest reflections.

Northern Illinois Preharvest Report

John Longley, ISA director from Aledo, Ill., has the harvest itch like many farmers across Illinois, “It’s that hurry up and wait time of year.” Longley has already harvested his maturity group 2.5 soybeans and hopes to start his maturity group 2.7 soybeans soon.

Weather

The weather in Longley’s area was dry in August, only receiving about half of the monthly average rainfall. However, September is bringing the wet weather. “We need the weather to stay nice so that the crops aren’t so high in moisture,” he states.

Yield Expectations

Like most soybean producers, Longley is expecting higher than average yield this year, but wants to get out in the fields before he confirms the prediction as true.

Market Prices

“The basis in corn is getting worse, and soybeans seem to be moving that way as well,” says Longley, “With this large crop and the difficulty finding ways to get rid of it, I can’t help but be reminded of how it was when I started farming.”

Other Observations

“I expect harvest to go smoothly as long as the weather stays nice,” predicts Longley. “It will be the end of harvest that gives us trouble.” He fears that large yields will cause storage and shipping issues, especially as you get farther away from transportation hubs; “We are located close to the river, so transportation won’t be as big of an issue, but storage is a concern.”

With prices the way they are, Longley advises growers to watch their expenses. “We are going back to the game of ‘cash is king,’ and if you don’t take calculated risk, you won’t be able to afford to operate with these market prices.”

Check back for updates from central Illinois.