IL CORN DROUGHT RESOURCES PAGE MORE ROBUST

Aug 15, 2012  |  Today's News

We’ve heard that harvest has started in some areas of the state. With that being the case, you may find that you need more information regarding the drought resources that are available to you. We’ve made it easier to access that information on the IL Corn website be creating a direct link. Go to http://www.ilcorn.org/drought for a current list of information and resources available to you as a farmer. We’ve also posted some great information for consumer audiences, as well.

We have created an online album of photographs from the 2012 growing season. If you’d like to submit photos and stories from your farm, please email them to ilcorn@ilcorn.org.

Earlier this week, University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Gary Schnitkey indicated at the farmdoc daily blog (“2012 Corn and Soybeans Yields Relative to Historical Yields”) that, “On August 10th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its first estimates of 2012 corn and soybean yields on a state level. As one would expect given the 2012 drought, many states are projected to have poor yields. Relative to trend yields from 1972 through 2011, 2012 corn yields are projected to be the worst in four states. The lowest corn and soybean yields are located in or near the Midwest. Southern and eastern seaboard states have relatively higher yields…Figure 1 shows a map giving a percentage for each state that USDA reported a yield in its August 10th report.  This percentage indicates the percent of yields from 1972 through 2011 that are below the 2012 yield. For example, Illinois’ percentage is 5%. This indicates that 5% of the yields from 1972 through 2011 are below the 2012 yield in terms of percent deviations from trend.”

The update noted that, “Similar to corn, low soybean yields are located in the Midwest (see Figure 2).”