West Central Reporter

State Representative Randy Frese shared information about the state's corn crop, stating, "According to the USDA, the Illinois corn crop is maturing ahead of pace." He made this announcement in a September 4 Facebook post.

"According to the USDA, the Illinois corn crop is maturing ahead of pace," said Frese, according to Facebook. "Wishing all our farmers a safe and bountiful harvest season this year."

In his Facebook post, Frese shared an article from Brownfield Ag News, which reported that the state’s corn crop is maturing ahead of schedule. The article also noted that the state’s soybean crops are similarly progressing faster than usual. "The latest weekly crop progress and condition report shows 24% of the corn crop is mature, 13% ahead of normal. The corn crop remains in good condition with 71% rated good to excellent. Seventy percent is dented compared to 63% normally. Sixty-eight percent of soybeans are in good to excellent condition and 14% are dropping leaves, which is 11% ahead of average," the publication said in its September 3 report.

Screenshot of State Rep. Randy Frese's Sept. 4 Facebook post | State Representative Randy Frese's Facebook page

A September 9 article from Brownfield Ag News indicated that the corn harvest has begun across the nation, with 5% harvested as of Sunday, September 8. This is ahead of schedule. According to the article, "The USDA says 5% of the crop is harvested as of Sunday, just ahead of the five-year average, with most of that in southern growing areas. Ninety-five percent of corn has reached the dough-making stage, 74% has dented, and 29% is mature, with 64% of the crop good to excellent, down 1% on the week." The soybeans are mostly at the setting stage; however, "25% are dropping leaves," which is faster than average.

Rep. Randy Frese serves as the State Representative for Illinois' 99th District. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sciences/Agriculture at Western Illinois University and subsequently worked as a sales and service representative for White Farm Equipment. He later became an industrial minerals salesman and eventually built his own businesses in Adams County. Frese and his wife are members of the Adams County Farm Bureau, and he has served on various boards including those for Adams County Fair and Quincy Catholic Charities, according to his official biography.