Very scattered rain July 1-4 across the region. Reports of no rain to 6 inches in locally heavy spots. Rain was spotty as you may have got rain on this quarter section and not the next. On our own farm we had one rain event where we had 4 tenths on one field and basically 0 half mile down the road on another. Despite the rain we are far from out of the woods on drought. The moisture hasn’t meet yet on our own farm and most others across S Illinois.

Lots and lots of questions on April planted corn. Some 4 ft tall and trying to tassel, most without any silks. In some fields silks out but no tassels. We are seeing root issues in the dry soil, some of the storms root lodged the corn and it has nothing to hold onto with the dry conditions. Late May and June planted corn still has a fighting chance. Some fungicide is going on, but I am not sure why at this stage, there is no disease pressure and in some cases, we don’t really have a viable host.

Early planted soybeans have maybe 9 nodes in some fields and have never closed the rows on 15 inches. Heard the seed production guy say he has never seed blooms “on the ground” because plants are so short. Later planting and later maturity are doing better. Spider mites are showing up in many places.

2023 harvest is shaping up to be a highly variable mess. There will be fields of good/average yields next to almost complete disasters based on planting date and what cloud it was under when.

Corn is hanging on as we are at least getting dew that runs down to the base of the plant. Wheat yield reports continue to be excellent. Both in bu/ac and test weight. Despite the dark clouds and a rainbow, no rain now in many locations for 35 days.

Wheat harvest has started. Yield reports have been very good but moisture is inconsistent. Most who are harvesting are drying their wheat. Replanting is all but done. However most of the replanting on soybeans have the seed sitting in dry soil. There is good soil moisture in many fields below 3 inches. Low humidity is really playing havoc with the crop. Corn is uneven and ranges from lime green to dark green, in the same field and even between rows across most fields. In worked fields we are seeing floppy corn even with 2 inch planting depth due to roots having little to hold on to in the loose dry soil. With the lack of moisture crop damage is way up this year with a lot of deer and turkey damage. Reports of over 30 head of deer in some bean fields picking them clean at night. Some have replanted beans 3 times due to deer damage.

Wireworms are being found and hurting stands in April planted corn on hills and Sandy soils in Saline Co this week. Scout fields now.

Some areas of southern Illinois are getting rain after rain and as a result field conditions are terrible. While many are near finished with planting other have yet to start. Some have lost patience for good soil conditions and are going ahead with planting; the result is a lot of poor stands and fields with the seed slot open or tunneling. Overall crop rating is a 5 out of 10.