Some parts of Illinois received three times as much rainfall last week compared to the same periods in previous years, and if precipitation remains heavy in the coming weeks, it could complicate the timing of corn harvest.

But other than planning for the perfect harvest openings nowadays, growers like Kirk Liefer near the southern Illinois town of Red Bud know they will be combining what looks to be record corn and bean crops in Illinois.

Liefer started harvesting corn last week and the initial numbers surprised even him. His first yields, he said, were about 25-30 percent higher than his own farm’s production history.

"We expected some pretty good corn," he said. "We think it will be better than last year."

The USDA agrees with Liefer, and in its most recent crop report earlier this month, yields and volume are expected to set records. The state overall is expected to produce about 2.289 billion bushels of corn, with an average yield of 194 bushels per acre, with soybeans coming in at 562.8 million bushels on an average yield of 56 bushels per acre.

From a record standpoint, the national numbers are just as impressive. USDA officials expect corn to come in at 14.4 billion bushels on an average yield of 171.7 bushels per acre, nearly 13 more than last year’s record total.

Beans are predicted at 3.91 billion bushels, up 19 percent over last year in part because acreage for beans this year is up about 11 percent. The average yield is pegged at nearly 47 bushels.

According to the latest USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) report for Illinois, precipitation averaged 2.3 inches for the week ending Sept. 14, 1.44 inches above normal. Temperatures were well below average, at 59.8 degrees.

Overall the corn crop across the state was rated at 82 percent excellent or good; slightly more than three-fourths of the state’s bean crop was rated as excellent or good.