Crop Report
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!
Warming trend ahead.
2.6 inches in the last 7 days
Have been very wet, but starting to improve
Everything stalled but spraying and some side-dress is starting back up.
Not yet planted to V4.
Not yet planted to V5.
Feeke’s 11.1 (milk) to 11.2 (dough)
Cutworm activity in the corn.
Waterhemp is emerging aggressively now with warmer temperatures. Seeing some giant ragweed escapes in early beans.
BYDV (Barley yellow dwarf virus)
Excessive rainfall has slowed crop growth and hampered emergence.
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.


and then