IT WAS A HOT AND FAIRLY DRY WEEK FOR ILLINOIS FIELDS AS WE HEAR IN THE WEEKLY CROP REPORT. 

RAIN WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL THIS PAST WEEK…AND TEMPERATURES WERE MORE THAN 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. U-S-D-A HEARTLAND FIELD OFFICE DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR STEVE MALISZEWSKI (mal-eh-sheski) SAYS 77 PERCENT OF CORN HAS REACHED THE DENT STAGE.

53 PERCENT OF SOYBEANS ARE TURNING COLORS AND 14 PERCENT ARE DROPPING LEAVES. 43 PERCENT OF THE CROP IS RATED IN GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION. 

THE THIRD CUTTING OF ALFALFA IS 91 PERCENT COMPLETE. 

AVERAGE STATEWIDE TOPSOIL MOISTURE IS RATED AT 11 PERCENT VERY SHORT, 22 PERCENT SHORT, 59 PERCENT ADEQUATE AND EIGHT PERCENT SURPLUS.