Crop Report

Region 3 | October 3, 2025 | LaSalle

Torey Colburn
tcolburn@farmland.org

Caption: Oat/Radish cover crop mix planted after hog manure application to a harvested wheat field.
Caption: Oats/Radishes flown into standing soybeans in early September. Fortunate to get some good rain events – doing well so far!
Caption: Soybean harvest is in full swing. I estimate 50-60% of soybean fields in my area have been harvested with 100% ready to be cut.
SYNOPSIS

Fall harvest is running on all eight cylinders around here. Almost everyone is cutting soybeans, and the harvest dust proves it! They are coming out pretty dry, too — I’ve heard moistures under 10% are common.

Corn harvest is ramping up as some producers are beginning to get soybeans finished. All the corn I’ve checked has black-layered now and has lost all of its green color.

As I complete this report, the temperature is flirting with the 90-degree mark… in October! It has been dry over the last two weeks. There’s a slight chance of rain starting 10/6, but when it has been as warm and dry as this, I won’t believe it until I see it.

Field crews should continue to take extra precautions to prevent and contain fires. It seems there are a few reported around the state each day. Keep your head on a swivel and look out for one another out there. Be safe!!

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTY?
Moderately Dry (soil is dry, plants may be browning or stressed, water bodies are low)
IF CONDITIONS ARE ON THE DRY END, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING US DROUGHT MONITOR CATEGORIES BEST FIT CURRENT CONDITIONS
Abnormally Dry (D0)
WEATHER

Hot and dry. 30-40% chance of rain coming but no word on how much we might see.

PRECIPITATION

None over the last 2 weeks.

FIELD/SOIL CONDITIONS

Moderately dry in most areas but I can still find moisture under good residue.

FIELD ACTIVITIES

Harvest operations, dry fertilizer applications, and fall soil testing.

COVER CROP INSIGHTS

Winter terminal species that were seeded ahead of our last rain are up and growing. Additional rainfall would certainly be appreciated. For producers still planning to plant cereal rye into their corn stalks, there’s still plenty of time. I’m not recommending any significant changes to those plans at this point.

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