Crop Report

Region 5 | May 26, 2026 | Effingham

Tim Laatsch
tim.laatsch2@gmail.com

Caption: Apparent barley yellow dwarf virus in soft red winter wheat.
Caption: Corn planted on 5/15/2026 at 7 days after planting. Healthy coleoptile and radicle, despite 2.4 inches of rain 4 days after planting.
Caption: Early stage corn with apparent black cutworm injury.
SYNOPSIS

The month of May has had only 3 to 4 days suitable for field work due to frequent rains. Heavy soaking rain of 2.4 inches on May 19-20 left fields completely saturated and soft. Very few drying days through Memorial Day, as skies remained overcast and temperatures cool. But temperatures are now increasing and close to normal, which is starting to drive some rapid crop growth (along with weeds!). Early beans are showing some patchy yellow discoloration that appears to be connected with wet spots during tillage and aggravated by excessive rainfall. Early corn has reached V5 to V7 and is taking off rapidly. Saw a few sprayers going on Memorial Day and several more the day after. Corn planted in the window of May 15 still has not emerged or is emerging uneven due to excessive moisture, no sun and cool temps. Replant operations should commence this week, as needed. Soft red winter wheat is filling grain but showing apparent barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) affecting flag leaves in clusters. Also, some head scab in the wheat, even where fungicide was applied at flowering. A little sunshine and warmer temperatures forecasted ahead should help everything improve!

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

Warming trend ahead.

PRECIPITATION

2.6 inches in the last 7 days

FIELD/SOIL CONDITIONS

Have been very wet, but starting to improve

FIELD ACTIVITIES

Everything stalled but spraying and some side-dress is starting back up.

SOYBEAN GROWTH STAGE

Not yet planted to V4.

CORN GROWTH STAGE

Not yet planted to V5.

WHEAT GROWTH STAGE

Feeke’s 11.1 (milk) to 11.2 (dough)

INSECTS

Cutworm activity in the corn.

WEEDS

Waterhemp is emerging aggressively now with warmer temperatures. Seeing some giant ragweed escapes in early beans.

DISEASES

BYDV (Barley yellow dwarf virus)

ABIOTIC ISSUES

Excessive rainfall has slowed crop growth and hampered emergence.

COVER CROP INSIGHTS

Cover crop ground going to beans, even when burned down early, has remained too wet to till or plant all spring. Holding excess moisture has been an ongoing management challenge with cover crops, delaying planting and substantially reducing yield potential. Now, those same fields are flushing with weeds and will become more costly to manage. Cover crops can improve soil quality, protect water quality, suppress weeds prevent erosion, but we have to find ways to help farmers manage the short-term negative impacts to profitability if we hope to drive more cover crop adoption.