Crop Report

Most of our area has finally received some rainfall over the last week, but it has been scattered and highly variable. I have had reports of a few tenths to a few inches across the county. Much of the area has gotten about 3/4 to 1″, however, there is a band through the central part of the county that has only gotten a few tenths at best and even that was scattered across multiple days. I have a corn demonstration plot planted 5/3 that after 2 weeks barely emerged and soybeans planted that same time again with very spotty emergence. Wide spread rain is greatly needed. For those that have caught rain, crops responded almost overnight in growth. I have seen some of the largest corn fields at V3-4. PRE herbicide activation has been a concern with limited rainfall. Wheat continues to be quite happy with continued modest temperatures overall in the 70s and 80s and no excessive precipitation. We will get a better view of the wheat crop across the region next Tuesday at the Illinois Wheat Association Plot Tour, where farmer groups will canvas many of our wheat producing counties across the state, assessing crop quality and yield estimates They will wrap up at the Belleville Research Center late afternoon to view plots and report crop observations.

Locally, we are still very dry overall. Rainfall has been very scattered with some areas having caught almost an inch, yet others not even a tenth so far. Temperatures have been moderate with highs in the 70’s to low 80’s, but some days have had a noticeable increase in humidity to more summer-like conditions. Most crops are emerged, but there are some acres left to plant. Soil moisture conditions for planting this spring have been the best I can remember for the last few years, compared with many, wet springs we have had in recent memory. The extent of the dry is starting to get concerning and most are hoping for a few inches of rain, even if they still have some acres to plant. Wheat is still looking very good, especially with the modest temperatures and dry weather. I have seen some fungicides applied earlier this week on wheat acres.

Like many we are very dry. Despite the cool weather, the last few fronts that have passed through over the last few weeks have not left much more than a few tenths of rain. That coupled with the windy conditions, has really dried things out. We are on the down hill side of full season corn and soybean planting with the only major slow down in planting has been some cooler weather, however, that pattern is supposed to break for more spring-like temperatures. There are some corn and soybean fields up, but just barely enough that you can row them from the road. Even the earliest planted has been very slow to emerge with the cool weather and lows still dropping to near 40 degrees some nights. Wheat is appreciating the dry weather and modest temperatures and is looking very good. Hopefully we will catch some rain here in the next week!