At the beginning of the week, we still struggled to find field conditions good enough to make post emerge soybean herbicide applications. With the warm temps and rather windy days, we were able to sneak in a couple dry days to finish our herbicide applications the 4th of July long weekend. We focused some time on doing some extensive crop scouting in corn and soybeans due to the weather patterns we have experienced and the disease model tools. While crop scouting, we did unfortunately find some insects such as corn aphids in the lower part of the canopy paired with diseases like common rust, grey leaf spot (GLS) and northern corn leaf blight (NCLB). Scouting over the next few weeks will be critical as we gear up to make recommendations on fungicide and insecticide applications whether by ground or aerial. Rain started off the long weekend on last Thursday night, with accumulations between .5-3.5 inches of rain across the region, with the northern part of our territory receiving the highest amounts. Our focus this week is to continue to scout and respray any escapes we have had from our post applications on soybeans. Wheat is very close to mature, if not ready or harvested already. The wheat that is not done already will be harvested this week. A little relief in temperatures, into the 80’s, will make for more desirable baling weather.

In our region, we experienced the warmest temperatures and highest humidity that we have had all summer. With daytime temperatures well into the 90s F and nighttime temperatures in the high 70s F. This made getting started in the mornings a struggle due to the dew on the leaves and damp conditions for making hay.

Throughout the last weekend, our region received anywhere from .5-3.5 inches in our territory. The northern part of the territory received the majority of the rain.

At the beginning of the week, the soil conditions were still wet, starting to dry up and become fit with help from the wind and warm temperatures. Though we had a little break in the weather, it wouldn’t last long.

We were able to get a break from the rain early to mid-last week, which allowed us to get into the field and finish post soybean herbicide spraying applications before the rain and the holiday weekend.

Soybean growth has started to really take off with the weather we have had. The majority of the beans being in that R1 to R2 growth stages. We anticipate fungicide and insecticide applications to start rolling by the end of the week or next.

While crop scouting. We saw V8-VT stages Tassels are coming quick. Many fields will be receiving their VT Fungicide applications starting this week, so the planes will be rolling.

The wheat is mature in the Williamsfield FFA plot and ready for harvest. Wheat that has been harvested in our region has been good with yields ranging from 110-140 bu/ac.

While crop scouting, we saw early stages of aphids and some Japanese beetles present.

Waterhemp, Giant Ragweed and many others continue to rare their ugly heads this week. Luckily, little to none are alive, after the post herbicide application. A few resprays will need to be made, but we are happy with the control we have had considering the weather patterns we have been dealt.

Diseases are starting to be prevalent in corn fields this week. We have spotted GLS Grey leaf spot , NCLB Northern corn leaf blight and common rust. We anticipate more to come like TARSPOT. Fungicide applications will be critical this year with the pressures we are seeing already.

Weather conditions continue to put stress on our soybeans, but they seem to be coming out of it with a little break in the rain and warm weather ahead.