Mother Nature was kinder to Illinois growers toward the end of July, easing her rate of rainfall throughout the state and letting crops that survived the excess water continue developing. But, as some growers and state ag officials already know, the damage has been done.

“This is going to be one of those years when people are going to be very grateful for crop insurance and happy they have it,” said Emerson Nafziger, crop specialist with the University of Illinois extension service. “Water has stood on the crop and really destroyed its chance to produce anything in lots of places.”

Going into the start of the last week of the month, growers learned precipitation levels were so damaging throughout most parts of Illinois that Gov. Bruce Rauner announced he was seeking a statewide emergency declaration from the USDA. If granted, growers in any county affected would be eligible for low-interest federal loans.

According to the latest NASS weekly crop progress report, average rainfall throughout the state was down for the week ending July 26 by nearly half, to just 0.57 inch for the week.

The average temperature for the week was 74.8 degrees, about 1.2 below normal for the same time period, according to the report. About one-third of the topsoil and subsoil moisture levels exceeded surplus levels, with nearly the rest rated as being adequate.

Corn condition overall improved a smidgen over the prior week, with 67 percent of the crop rated as good or excellent. Playing catch-up because of the wet conditions, the crop’s silking rate at the end of the week reached 89 percent, just slightly behind last year’s pace.

Soybean conditions aren’t faring quite as well, with just 59 percent of the state’s crop rated as good or excellent. Soybeans setting pods was pegged at about 31 percent, 10 percent behind last year’s crop.

Nearly completed heading into the start of August was winter wheat harvesting, which hit nearly 96 percent, and the planting of sorghum.