Farmers encountered mixed results so far this harvest, albeit with a very small portion of crops in the bin thus far. While corn harvest activity could pick up the first half of October, harvest of soybeans, particularly those planted after Memorial Day, remains weeks away for many farmers. USDA last month pegged Illinois yield averages at 180 bushels per acre for corn and 53 bushels for soybeans, down 30 and 12 bushels, respectively, from last year’s records. Many analysts believe crop yield potential could continue to slip as the season moves along, depending on weather conditions. (FarmWeekNow)