Crop Report

Region 2 | April 17, 2026 | Knox County

Brandon Hall
bhall@westcentralfs.com

Caption: This picture shows us at the Envirothon FFA contest. We gave a presentation to students about Illinois soil formation and conservation.
Caption: After using a soil thermometer, we see that soil temperatures have risen to as high as 62 degrees in Knox County.
Caption: This picture is at Ag Day for Kids, put on by the Knox County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom team, to teach fourth graders how important agriculture is to their everyday lives, for both rural and urban students alike.
SYNOPSIS

Started off the week with rain, so field conditions have not been optimal for fieldwork. Our area is officially out of the drought. With the ground being moist, people are still preparing for when it becomes dry. While expecting more rain this weekend, the hope is to get conditions dry enough for next week.

We have kept ourselves busy by helping with FFA events, “Land Use Council 4 Envirothon” for Fulton County, Hancock County, McDonough County, Knox County and Warren County, and Ag in the Classroom, “Ag Day for fourth graders.”

Soil temperatures have risen to around 62 degrees. Temperatures are staying warmer throughout the night, which will help keep soil temperatures up and continuing to rise.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTY?
Mildly Wet (soil is wetter than normal, local vegetation is healthy)
WEATHER

This week, temperatures have been in the 80s, with a drop into the 50s expected over the weekend. Erratic weather has prevented farmers from making progress on fieldwork.

PRECIPITATION

Our area has received about 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain in the past week, and we are expecting precipitation tonight and into the weekend.

FIELD/SOIL CONDITIONS

Field and soil conditions are wet. Soil temperatures are ranging from the 50s to 60s in our area. Soil temperatures in no-till fields average 4 to 6 degrees cooler than in spring-tilled fields.

FIELD ACTIVITIES

Little to no activity in the field this week due to wet conditions.

WHEAT GROWTH STAGE

With ample rain and sunshine this week, our winter wheat planted with the Williamsfield FFA plot has continued to green up and grow.

COVER CROP INSIGHTS

Cover crops continue to grow as they have received sunshine and rains throughout the week.

OTHER

On Tuesday, we attended the Land Use Council 4 Envirothon, where we gave a presentation on the importance of soil, soil health and soil conservation to FFA students from Fulton County, Hancock County, McDonough County, Knox County and Warren County.

On Friday, we helped with the Knox County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Ag Day for fourth graders at the Knox County Fairgrounds, where agriculture industry professionals from commodity groups, including Ag in the Classroom, Knox County Pork Producers, Knox County Cattlemen’s Association and Knox County Corn Growers, along with FFA students, taught fourth graders about agriculture.

These events help us stay involved with the community and teach the younger generation how important agriculture is to our communities.

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