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.

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.

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.

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!