Several weeks of high temperatures have Illinois farmers and crop experts keeping a close eye on corn and soybeans.
Patrick Kirchhofer of the Peoria County Farm Bureau says the heat has been accompanied by high humidity that increases disease problems.
Rick Fritz is a crop consultant with Brimfield Ag Service. He said the corn crop has already been hurt by the heat. No one knows how much yet, though.
The demand for corn to make ethanol and feed livestock in the United States and overseas has pushed prices high this year. That puts tremendous pressure on farmers to produce a big crop.
Matt Montgomery of the University of Illinois Extension Service said last Sunday's heavy rain in central Illinois helped slow crop damage.