Tag Archives: corn

Muggy weather in Illinois could yield bountiful harvest

(ROCKFORD) Crop experts say the recent heat and humidity that has hit Illinois is ideal for the state’s soybean and corn crops.

Nikki Keltner is a program coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension, which covers Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. She says early ear counts indicate above-average corn production in the area unless there is severe weather or other issues.

Premier Cooperative recently completed a survey of local cornfields in Champaign County as well as parts of Vermilion, Piatt and Douglas counties. Scouts estimated an annual yield of 224 bushels per acre, which would top 2014’s record year, when the count was 221.

Premier CEO Roger Miller says the target date to start this season’s harvest is Sept. 15.

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Lawmakers approve an official state vegetable

Photo Credit: morguefile.com
Photo Credit: morguefile.com

(SPRINGFIELD) As state lawmakers wrestle with a budget deficit – some are focusing on food.

Listen to Nick Gale’s report:

Illinois certainly grows a lot of corn – but not so much of the type you enjoy with salt and butter. Regardless, state lawmakers in the House and Senate have voted to make Sweet Corn the official state vegetable.

State Rep. Raymond Poe of says the idea came to him from fourth graders at Downstate Chatham elementary.

“Chatham’s had a sweet corn festival for 42 years and the class came up with the idea of ‘why don’t we make sweet corn the state vegetable’ and so it’s been a great lesson in government for the kids,” Poe said.

Lawmakers also passed a bill designating pumpkin as the official state pie. Illinois is the nation’s largest producer of pumpkins.

If your keeping track of Illinois’ official food items, pumpkin pie and sweet corn join popcorn – the state snack food – and the gold rush apple – the official state fruit.

The bills now head to the governor’s desk.

@Copyright 2015 WLS News