, 
, 
, 
Denny Reese (left) and Chuck Egland chop silage Monday afternoon east of Hardwick where yield is reported to be lighter than normal. Several times this summer corn stalks and leaves were bent and/or shredded from high winds and heavy rains. According to the USDA crop progress and condition report released Monday, area crops continue to lag behind last year and the five-year average. Corn maturity is averaging 16 days behind 2018 and two weeks behind the five-year average. Soybeans are nine days behind last year and a week behind the five-year average. Corn harvested for silage is 13 days behind the average and is 21 percent complete. Last year at this time, silage chopping was 83 percent complete. The five-year completion average is 61 percent.