Illinois corn, soybean crops faring well; wheat harvest nearing end

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Illinois' corn crop is maturing faster than normal and faring well.

The USDA says in its weekly crop-status update that 81 percent of the state's corn is rated as either good or excellent. Eighty-two percent of the crop is silking, 12 percentage points better than the average of the previous five years.

Roughly three-quarters of Illinois' soybean crop is considered good or excellent. Sixty-nine percent of the soybeans in the field are now blooming, ahead of the five-year average of 55 percent.

Some 95 percent of the state's wheat harvest is now complete, in line with the average pace of the previous five years.