Region 4 | September 1, 2026 | Sangamon/Christian/Montgomery

Darby Danzl
darby.danzl@ilsoy.org

Caption: Farmer stripping off corn end rows in Sangamon County, Illinois on Sep. 1 2026
Caption: Corn at R8 (physiological maturity) in Christian County, Illinois on Sep. 1 2026
SYNOPSIS

Harvest season is coming in HOT! Literally… as temperatures are reaching 100°F in many areas of central Illinois this week.

It seems that September 1 hit and soybean fields started turning, as many full-season beans in these counties are hitting R7 (beginning maturity) or pushing R8 (full maturity). A few farmers have begun dipping their toes in corn harvest, as I saw a few guys stripping off end rows. This high heat will accelerate crop dry down, especially since early-planted crops were already pushing maturity in many areas of Sangamon, Christian and Montgomery counties. Fall is definitely whispering to us and I expect harvest to be in full swing within the next couple weeks.

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)
WEATHER

Hot, with temperatures peaking at 100°F

FIELD/SOIL CONDITIONS

Soils have dried down after a wet August.

FIELD ACTIVITIES

Corn harvest

SOYBEAN GROWTH STAGE

Full season beans are at R6 (full seed) – R7 (beginning maturity), double crop beans are around R4 (full pod).

CORN GROWTH STAGE

R4 (dough) – R8 (physiological maturity)

WEEDS

Late-season waterhemp flushes are prevalent in many soybean fields after a wetter-than-normal August.

DISEASES

Sudden death syndrome and red crown rot in soybeans.

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