Harvest 2020: Corn and soybeans all but complete

Corn harvest
Mark Schleusener, state statistician, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, says Illinois’ corn harvest is all but complete. (Photo courtesy: Flickr)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – There is less to talk about this time of year for the USDA crop report.

Illinois state statistician Mark Schleusener of the department’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says the corn and soybean harvests are all but complete, with winter wheat still out there. That’s 92 percent emerged, better than average.

Last week’s weather averages were 48 degrees and 1.12 inches precipitation. That’s about six degrees warmer than average, with the rainfall just about average.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…