Region 5 | August 27, 2026 | DeWitt, Macon & Piatt
Doug Gucker
dgucker@illinois.edu
Caption: Some soybean fields are just beginning to turn colors indicating that they are in the Beginning Maturity, R7 stage.
Caption: A big issue in local earlier planted corn fields are the areas of prematurely dead corn. This seems to be the result of either corn crown rot, or root and stalk diseases.
Caption: Photo showing a corn root crown with what looks to be corn crown rot.
SYNOPSIS
Earlier-planted soybean fields are beginning to turn color, signaling the Beginning Maturity (R7) stage. Other soybean fields are mostly in the Full Seed, R6 stage, and no longer blooming.
Earlier-planted corn fields are looking ugly with areas of the fields showing severe N-deficiency symptoms and dead plants, which is indicative of a root or stalk disease issue. Corn crown rot is suspected to be the cause in some of the fields. I currently have several corn plant roots and lower stalks being analyzed at the U of I Plant Clinic in the hope of determining the cause or causes. Local farmers are preparing for a challenging beginning to their corn harvest in the area.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES CURRENT CONDITIONS IN THIS COUNTY?
Near Normal


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