John Hazzard, who farms near Wilmington in western Will County and always does such
a terrific job keeping us posted on conditions throughout the growing season, sends us
these shots of the standing water in what should be fully planted corn fields taken just
after lunch Tuesday. Area farmers have been unable to begin planting this year because
of all the rain and wet ground which has resulted. It’s a situation common across
Illinois and Indiana. John estimates it will take close to a week without rain for area
farmers to be able to get into these fields and points out yields begin dropping 2—3
bushels per acre May 15 and beyond. Even faster declines in yields occur beyond the
20th. Thanks for your thorough and always helpful updates, John—and for these
illustrative shots! Let’s hope for some extended dry weather—though models offer no
indication of an entire week rain-free anytime in the foreseeable future.
Tom Skilling
Photos courtesy of John Hazzard, Wilmington, Illinois
