As harvest winds down, local farmers are reflecting on what turned out to be a generally successful growing season. Rob Elliott with Elliott Brothers Seed says yields for both corn and soybeans in west-central Illinois were strong despite late-season challenges.
“August through October was extremely dry, which tended to take the top end off yields—that dryness limited the ability for maximum grain fill,” Elliott says. “The other factor, which wasn’t as significant as it could have been, was some late-season disease. Because it arrived late enough, its impact on yield was limited. Those diseases were primarily southern rust and tar spot, and they affected final fill and yield potential, particularly in corn but also in soybeans.”
Elliott says the dryness and disease pressures farmers faced tended to pull down yields, leading him to characterize this year’s crop as a good one, rather than exceptional.
“After hearing comments from people across the Midwest, “says Elliott,” I would expect final yields to be reduced from some of the early projections, based on that broad range of feedback we continue to hear.”
He adds that the final government report on yields will be released once federal offices reopen, providing a clearer picture of how the 2025 crop year stacks up regionally and nationally.
