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Illinois governor declares harvest emergency

 

Illinois corn farmers are struggling to finish harvesting the second largest corn crop ever.

“We’re not having a lot of days every week where harvest can be done.  Rain—not only when it rains, but if the rain’s significant enough—that causes the fields to be very soft, it’s hard to get in and finish up harvesting.”  Rodney Weinzierl, executive director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, tells Brownfield the governor has declared a statewide harvest emergency to allow farmers to carry heavier truck loads and move crops into storage.

Weinzierl says despite the difficult conditions, beneficial weather at the end of summer has led to many farmers getting better yields than expected.  “We had a lot of challenges with the growing season this year, especially in northern Illinois and southeastern Illinois.  We had a lot of rain early and planting was slow or delayed or even replanted.

He says that late planting season has also led to a later than normal harvest.

AUDIO: Interview with Rodney Weinzierl