http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

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Dry weather in Illinois hastened the harvest, but slowed fieldwork. The dry ground was too hard for some tillage tools. Vertical drilling was not possible because the machine would not go into the ground. Some farmers with newer rippers with rolling baskets were able to get through the field. Those with older tools were leaving enormous clods of dirt. Field fires have also been a problem as the strong winds and low humidity have fueled fires across the state. Heat and drought have also delayed applications of anhydrous ammonia. The soil also needs to be somewhat moist to capture the ammonia or it is wasted. Farm Week Now (Bloomington, Ill.), Oct 31, 2024