Region 5 | July 24, 2026 | DeWitt, Macon & Piatt

Doug Gucker
dgucker@illinois.edu

soybean leaf defoliation present, but only on the outside Soybean leaf defoliation by Japanese beetle is present in only the outside rows of some fields.
Caption: Soybean leaf defoliation by Japanese beetle is present in only the outside rows of some fields.
No-Till double-crop soybeans planted the first week of July are in the V3, Third Trifoliate stage.
Caption: No-Till double-crop soybeans planted the first week of July are in the V3, Third Trifoliate stage.
April planted corn fields are reaching the R3, Milk stage
Caption: April planted corn fields are reaching the R3, Milk stage
SYNOPSIS

Crops are generally looking good. The exceptions are fields that suffered earlier issues of waterlogged soils or storm damage. Amaranth weed control has been a problem for non-GMO soybean producers relying on Group 14 herbicides, with insufficient early-season herbicide control of these plants. Dr. Aaron Hager’s research shows improved amaranth control in non-GMO soybeans when metribuzin is applied at appropriate rates either PPI or at planting. Soybean fields vary from the R1 to R4 growth stages.
No-till double-crop soybeans are growing very well, reaching the V3 stage.
Corn fields vary from almost VT to R3 stage. Nitrogen deficiency is apparent in fields where there were waterlogged soils. Corn leaf diseases are beginning to appear – Gray Leaf Spot. Physoderma Brown Spot can be seen in a few isolated fields in the low areas where water stood earlier in the season.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTY?
Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
IF CONDITIONS ARE ON THE DRY END, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING US DROUGHT MONITOR CATEGORIES BEST FIT CURRENT CONDITIONS
Near Normal (Dnada)
Download PDF