Winter's here, yet Illinois corn harvest drags on

David Mercer
December 4th, 2009 - 10:40 AM
December 4th, 2009 - 10:40 AM
corn harvest, Illinois, Illinois
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The long, slow harvest of what is expected to be the second largest U.S. corn crop ever is winding down - except in Illinois.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - The long, slow harvest of what is expected to be the second largest U.S. corn crop ever is winding down - except in Illinois.

Illinois is the country's second largest corn producer. But more than a quarter of its harvest is still in wet, muddy fields at a time when farmers are typically done for the season.

Among the top 10 corn states, the only state further behind is South Dakota. Farmers in Iowa, the nation's No. 1 corn producer, are steering combines toward the final 10 percent their crops.

A wet spring kept many farmers from planting on time. A cool, damp summer slowed crop development. A rainy fall prevented corn from quickly drying, which is needed to produce animal feed, corny syrup and other products.

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