Region 4 | July 1, 2026 | Montgomery

Stephanie Porter
stephanie.porter@ilsoy.org

Caption: R2 soybeans in the heat of the day
Caption: Corn pollination before the 4th of July
Caption: Gray leaf spot
SYNOPSIS

The heat is on and it has sped up the growth stages of both corn and soybeans. The corn growth stages of VT – R1 can be the most sensitive to heat stress. Warm nights (72F – 75F) combined with hot days can increase stress on pollen, silks, and fertilization, potentially reducing kernel set. But the good news is that we don’t have moisture stress and cooler weather is in the forecast. It has finally dried up enough to harvest wheat, plant double-crop soybeans, apply post herbicide on late planted soybeans, and apply fungicide/insecticide on early planted corn.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTY?
Near Normal
IF CONDITIONS ARE ON THE DRY END, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING US DROUGHT MONITOR CATEGORIES BEST FIT CURRENT CONDITIONS
Near Normal (Dnada)
WEATHER

Extreme heat with highs in the 90’s (heat index of over 100F) and lows around 70 – 74 F

PRECIPITATION

No rain since last weekend

FIELD/SOIL CONDITIONS

Dry

FIELD ACTIVITIES

Fungicide/Insecticide applications, wheat harvest, and planting double-crop soybeans

SOYBEAN GROWTH STAGE

R2

CORN GROWTH STAGE

R1

INSECTS

Minimal Japanese beetles

DISEASES

Soybean: Bacterial leaf blight, and Septoria brown spot
Corn: Gray leaf spot, corn smut, and holcus spot