Corn and soybeans across the area continue to look healthy, and growing progress remains steady. Many corn fields have been successfully pollinated. Spray planes have also been active the last couple of weeks, with producers putting on fungicides. Soybeans have nearly all flowered, with most also starting to grow pods. Some rain would be welcome, but there does not appear to be a lack of moisture in the soil.

April planted corn has fully pollinated. Both corn and soybeans have had fungicide and insecticide applications. The late May planted soybeans are not there yet and only at R2. Mid May soybeans have canopied. Stink bug feeding and bacterial leaf diseases showing up in corn. Could use more rain soon.

Monday night’s derecho brought significant rainfall to the area. Most parts of Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties received 1.5 to nearly 3 inches of rain. This rain, combined with the rain received from Hurricane Beryl, caused some low-lying areas to have standing water. Thankfully, there does not appear to be any signs of wind damage. Nearly all of the corn across the three counties has tasseled, and pollination is beginning. Soybeans also look good, almost all in the R2 to R3 stages. Waterhemp continues to be a prevalent issue. Japanese beetles are also present, but damage has yet to reach the economic threshold in the fields I have walked through.

Majority of crops are in excellent condition. Received 1 to 2 inches of rain last night with no storm damage. Moderate temperatures forecast for the next week should be beneficial.

A very, welcomed inch of rain came last week and crops have been relieved from drought stress. Even though the extreme heat has ceased, the humidity is high. Diseases such as Septoria brown spot in soybeans and gray leaf spot in corn have started to show on lower leaves. Japanese beetle feeding has increased. April planted corn is almost pollinated and soybeans are R3.

Not much has changed in the way of crop growth across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties over the last week. Nearly all of the earlier-planted corn has tasseled, with the rest of the corn crop not too far behind in some areas. Soybean growth remains strong as well. Some insect damage can be found on leaves, but nothing that will affect yields at this moment.

The rain that we got late last week was welcomed with corn starting to tassel. This week, most of the corn around here has tasseled and has silks out. Soybeans are entering the R3 stage as plants are putting little pods in the upper nodes. For the month of June at the Orr center, rainfall was less than 50% of what we normally get. Hopefully we get more rainfall this week to further help the crop.

There has been almost no rain for a month. Early planted corn is pollinating. Japanese beetle populations are building and more being in field edges. Mid-May planted soybeans are just R1 and recently had a post herbicide application. The only disease found on corn was Physoderma brown spot. No fungicide needed or applied. Fingers crossed for some rain in the coming week.

Corn fields are showing signs of stress and leaf rolling during this high heat environment. Several fields were observed with tassels appearing and some silks. Another good indicator of how even fields will be are how uniformly we see tassels. I suspect there will be fields with non-uniform flowering. Soybean fields are growing nicely. I observed one 30″ field that was near closing the row. Soybeans will be flowering very soon if not already. Fungicide applications for corn will start soon. Soybeans still have some time. Spider mites could be a potential threat if the continued hot and dry weather persists.

Fields are dry, but not seeing a lot of stress in plants. This area could use a good rain. We saw our first field of tasseled corn. In one soybean field, seeing several grape colaspis beetle and couple of Japanese beetles.

High temperatures have entered the area and are putting pressure on crops in Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties. While there has not been a major rainfall event for some time, and the topsoil moisture supply is lower, there is still moisture down further in the root zone that is allowing crops to receive water. The forecast shows no break in the heat anytime soon, and chances for rain each day remain in flux. Most of the crops still appear to be healthy and have yet to exhibit signs of heat stress. There are some crops, especially ones in sandier soils, that are beginning to exhibit signs of stress. Not much else has changed in the way of growing conditions across the three counties.

No rain in the last few weeks and the heat has started. Corn is at V8 and V6 growth stages. Soybeans are at R1, V2/V3, and VC. No pests or diseases found. Sulfur deficiency showing in V6 corn with weaker root systems. Waterhemp breaking through in V2/V3 soybeans.

Crop growing conditions remain steady across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties. Mild temperatures during the day and cooler evenings have relieved later-planted crops. Weed pressure is also becoming more prevalent in fields planted late, but high winds during the last week have prevented many fields from being sprayed. Nearly all of the first hay cutting is also completed, with most hay fields growing reasonably well. Hot temperatures are expected to come into the area later this week and weekend, so plants will likely experience some stress. Rain is also forecast for Thursday, which could provide some needed topsoil moisture.

Last week stayed mostly dry with the exception of a very light rain shower on the 5th of June. Corn is turning dark green and is taking off in growth. Corn and soybean post herbicide applications are well underway. Last week and this week also seems to be ideal to get hay baled.

The last field planted a week ago is up and soybean populations look good. Post Herbicide going on R1 soybeans before more rain in the forecast. Some morningglory and waterhemp escapes after post herbicide in corn. Bacterial blight coming on strong in R1 soybeans and Anthracnose blight as well as common rust starting to show up on lower leaves in V7 corn. No major insect issues besides scattered stinkbug injury in corn.

Brief rain showers overnight provided some much-appreciated rain for the area. Growing conditions remain steady across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties, with planting mostly concluded.

If you stop and listen, you can hear the corn (and soybeans) growing. April planted corn is V6, April planted beans are V3, May planted corn is V3, May planted soybeans are VC. No weeds thanks to a post herbicide spray and some side dressing Nitrogen. Minor bean leaf beetle feeding on soybeans.

Last week’s high winds and dust storms sidelined many producers in the area. Warmer temperatures and clear skies later in the week allowed most farmers to catch up on or finish planting across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties. Rain on Friday (5/24) and Sunday (5/26) provided some moisture for corn and soybeans that have recently emerged. In earlier-planted fields, corn and soybean plants remain in the V2-V3 stages. In the fields that were more recently planted, corn plants are in the VE stage, and soybean plants are in the VC-VE stages.

Last week remained dry despite the small chances of rain. The rain didn’t hit this region until Friday late morning with nearly an inch of rain total throughout the weekend. A lot of corn acres got sprayed with post herbicide applications last week. This morning, much of the corn appears to be in the V4 to V5 growth stage. The earlier planted soybean is around the V2 growth stage.

Planting is done in the area. Post emergence herbicides being applied to both corn and soybeans.
Those that side dress corn are hitting it hard. Crop stands are excellent, corn is V2 to V6 soybeans are V1 to V3.

Conditions across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties in the last week have allowed many farmers to catch up on their planting. While there were some small pockets of rain in certain areas, no major accumulations were observed. The last few days have brought a lot of warm weather to the area, and some rain is in the forecast. The crops that have been planted and emerged look healthy. Corn acres that were planted earlier are mostly in the V2-V3 stage, and earlier-planted soybeans are in the V1-V2 stage.

With temperatures being in the mid 80s to near 90s, conditions dried up nicely to give a window for guys to wrap up their planting over the weekend and early this week. Many farmers have early corn post herbicide applications going out this week. Thanks to the recent rainfall that we had, this region no longer shows up as abnormally dry on the U.S. Drought Monitor map.

The heat has the early April planted crops growing fast. The corn has grown 2 growth stages in a week. Weeds are also coming on strong in the corn and it was just sprayed with post herbicides. The soybeans remained clean. The wet holes in soybeans that were replanted on Mother’s Day have already emerged. No signs of disease or pests. Many had a chance to get in the field again.

The latter part of last week and weekend saw great conditions for fields to dry up and be suitable for fieldwork. Brief rain showers on Monday and Tuesday, combined with cooler temperatures, have stalled planting progress yet again for many local farmers. Many of the soybeans and corn that have emerged remain in the same growth stage as last week.

It seems like this will be another wet week in Pike County. Over Mother’s Day weekend, there was a lot of planting and spraying being done. It seems like most farmers around here have very few acres left and some are even finished planting for the spring. With the exception of fields planted over last weekend weekend, it appears that all other fields that are planted have emerged and appear to be doing well. This rainfall will provide adequate activation of residual herbicides to hopefully keep our fields free of weeds until post herbicide application timing.

We are just about dry enough to begin fieldwork (again) on Mother’s Day weekend. Morningglory showed up in corn after last week’s report. Soybeans are clean. Only one cutworm moth was caught in trap and a few corn plants had wireworm injury. Next up will be spotting in soybeans in drowned out areas of various fields.

Early this morning, a storm went through and left 7 tenths of an inch of rain at the Orr Research Center outside of Perry, IL. Many crop acres were planted early to mid April and appear to be doing well. Corn that was planted the week of April 8 is at the V1-V2 growth stage while soybeans planted that same week have their unifoliate leaves unrolled.

Rains over the last few days have prevented farmers from finishing planting their crop acres for 2024. The National Weather Service in Lincoln reported 0.38” of rain in the last 24 hours, and many low spots on fields have standing water. More rain is predicted for 5/7 and 5/8. Much of the soybeans and corn that were planted in mid-April have emerged. Soybeans in the area are in the VE growth stage, while corn in the area is in the VE to V1 growth stage.

Crop that is planted and up looks to be variable based on moisture levels in the fields. Higher ground looks good and uniform. Low areas may be drown out or still yet to emerge.

After the recent heat, it appears that most crops have turned quickly over night. Early April planted corn is almost to black layer and early April plants soybeans are turning. Harvest will be here soon. Be sure to check corn stalk quality to know which fields to harvest first.

It was a hot one and the early planted/earlier maturity corn and soybeans are starting to turn quickly. Corn is 1/2 to 3/4 milk line depending on maturity. Thus, far grainfill seems to be just fine, but would really like some rain to finish out the season. Many have started to watch out for stalk rot to know which corn fields to harvest first. Cercospora leaf blight started to show up in soybeans.

Corn and soybeans are approaching the R5 growth stage. As I type this, we are finally getting a significant amount of rain. Dryer weather, hybrid resistance, and fungicide have kept diseases like gray leaf spot and tar spot at bay in corn. But Goss’ wilt and Northern Corn Leaf blight have just started to show up. Soybeans are loving the rain and could have potential to yield if diseases stay away. One plant was found that had stem canker.

It was a good sign to see that the corn canopy was collecting as much sunlight as possible with little sunlight hitting the ground. We can’t complain, but would love more rain for corn grainfill. The insecticide application eliminated Japanese beetles and most disease. If you visit field edges where fungicide coverage was a scarce, you will find tar spot on lower leaf and gray leaf spot moving up the plant. Soybeans are hanging in there with no more insect pressure thanks to a recent insecticide application. Septoria brown spot is in the lower canopy.

Corn pollination is complete. The cracks in the ground have me hoping for rain soon for grainfill. I unfortunately found that spot for the first time on our farm on a few lower leaves. We will continue to scout to see if the disease progresses and if the fungicide application holds. No report on our soybeans this week, but instead I headed to scout soybeans in Shelby Co.

Corn is almost fully pollinated and recently had a fungicide/insecticide application. Soybeans have just reached R3 and Septoria brown spot is showing up in lower leaves. It’s almost getting dry again and we will need moisture for corn grainfill. High smoke in the air.

Corn pollination is taking place. Soybeans will be approaching R3 (pod set) soon. Both corn and soybeans will be at the correct growth stage for fungicide and insecticide in about a week. There appears to be a lot of waterhemp escapes. Also saw minor corn snap and lodging.

Conditions are very dry. We are starting to see Spider Mites and Japanese Beetles in our area.

3 to 8 tenths of precipitation in June so far. From 3 different rain events. Most crops are showing some stress in the afternoons Irrigations are putting on 1 to 1.5 inches per week. Dry land sand is about done in. Wheat harvest is a week away.

Corn will reach tassel in 1 to 2 weeks. Soybeans will reach R3 in 1 to 2 weeks. Japanese beetles are moving in on field edges. Post herbicide applications have taken place in soybeans.

West Central IL and Northeast MO is dry. We are starting to see symptoms of drought. Corn is starting to roll and seeing some signs of nutrient deficiencies due to poor uptake on lighter acres. Northeast MO has several acres of soybeans laying in dry dirt not germinated.

Corn is starting to appear stressed, with K deficiency symptoms due to lack of rain. Early planted soybeans are starting to bloom. Growth of both corn and soybeans is stunted. Some bacterial blight on lower leaves is of R1.

Conditions appear very, dry with some moisture still in the ground for recent replanted areas. Irrigation was running on corn. Crops have not quite show signs of drought stress yet but are close.

This field was replanted into the original stand because most of the field was only 50,000 plants per acre after planting early, saturated soils, and then hail. Several weeds such as waterhemp and ivyleaf morning glory are coming on strong. Post herbicide will be needed soon.

Early planted corn is now at V5/V6, while later planted corn is at V3. Fields are clean for the most part. No signs of insects or disease.

Had just 4 tenths of rain in June so far. Most crops still look good.. Lighter soils and sand fields are showing stress. Been applying about an inch of water per week for the last 3 weeks through irrigation.

2.8 inches of rain over the weekend. Water standing field work has been at a stand still for the last week and will be for another week. Just a few fields left to plant in the area., Either field corn or seed corn.

We are starting to see some Black Cutworms in Western IL. Scout throughout the field and often.

We received 3 to 3.5 inches total over the previous weekend. The hail events took place on Sunday, May 7th. Stand counts of soybeans were on the lower end before the hail. You are able to see regrowth already on soybeans thanks to warm days. We will need to reevaluate the stand at the end of the week if it does not rain again. The West side of the field is the worst. No hail injury across the county line into Montgomery County.

We received 2 to 3 inches of rain in total over the previous weekend. This and the heat amazingly allowed the corn to break through the soil crust. Stands look so much better, but way too wet to take stand counts.

Planted on April 12th. Population of around 70,000 plants per acre, with many still trying to push through. We need a rain!

Planted April 18th and 19th. A few spikes can be seen coming through soil cracks. Soil is crusted, but corn remains ok beneath the sealed in soil. Dad is starting worry. We need rain!