Many had just started to get back into the field after last weekend’s (about 1 inch) rain but have stopped again after today’s rain. A high percentage of fields have been planted, and you can now see around 35% soybean and corn emergence from the road. Overall, both corn and soybean stands and populations look good after last weekend’s cold snap and rain. Some fields that were planted around April 9 or 10 are struggling to emerge in fields that are crusted. One soybean field had necks that were breaking in crusted conditions, and these plants will not survive. Plant populations will need to be reevaluated in another five to seven days to see if replant is needed. Many days have been very windy and not suitable for herbicide applications. Morningglories were seen emerging while scouting soybeans.

We started off the week with unfavorable (15-20 mph-plus) winds, which kept us out of the field for the first half of the week. In the meantime, we have kept busy finishing up spring anhydrous ammonia and delivering seed to customers. We continue to make progress with trials, such as our HumiK trial near Lomax, Ill., where we spread dry fertilizer on Friday—now just to plant—and our ISA on-farm Sulfur 2.0 trial also was planted on Saturday. Wednesday, we started spraying, and a lot of local farmers have started planting as well. Friday morning, we were set back a day from 0.10-0.20 inch of rain. Last Friday, we got severe storms with 1-2 inches of rain, high winds and hail. Temperatures have been in the 50s, with frost overnight. We are expecting more severe storms this next week, which could set everyone back with fieldwork once again.

There have been reports of cutworm activity in Saline County.
Fields at greatest risk to cutting and economic damage are in the one- to four-leaf stage of plant development. An early warning sign of potential economic damage includes small pinhole feeding injury in leaves (caused by the first three instars). Do not assume that all Bt hybrids offer the same level of cutworm protection. A nominal threshold of 3% cutting of plants has traditionally been used as a point at which growers should consider a rescue treatment. For more information, go to extension.cropsciences.illinois.edu/fieldcrops/insects/black_cutworm/.

The following represents crop progress in Christian, Greene, Macon, Macoupin, Morgan and Sangamon counties as of April 23, 2026.

The amount of soybeans planted in the above counties stands at about 40% to 45%. The range is broad, though, with some portions of Greene County at about 30% planted and some areas of Morgan County nearly 85% planted. Better than a third of the planted crop had emerged on average.

Corn progress in the above-listed counties stands at about 75% to 80% planted. Once again, there is a range of progress represented in that average. Portions of Greene County were about 55% to 60% complete as we started out the week. Areas south of Springfield (southern Sangamon and northern Macoupin) were better than 90% finished with corn planting. Better than 45% of the planted crop had emerged on average.

Most area alfalfa is well past a foot in height (sometimes by a few inches), and wheat started out the week somewhere around Feekes 6 to 8, depending on location.

Frost did hit the area during the early part of the week, but in the noted counties we avoided the sub-30s, and soil temperatures further buffered the temperature drop near the soil line. In the noted counties, we avoided any significant frost injury.

A summary of planting progress follows for specific locals:

Carrollton, IL, area: Better than 70% of the corn crop planted, with better than 40% emerged. Nearly 40% of soybeans planted, with nearly 25% of the planted crop emerged.

Decatur, IL, area: Just under half of the soybean crop had been planted going into midweek. Of the crop that was planted, about 40% of planted beans had emerged. Corn progress stood close to 75%, and half of planted corn fields had emerged.

Greenfield, IL, area: Soybean progress closed in on one-third planted as we began the week, with 40% of the planted crop emerged. Corn progress was better than 60%, with nearly half of the planted crop emerged.

Hettick, IL, area: About 40% of the soybean crop has been planted, with almost two-thirds of the planted crop now emerged. Corn progress stood at nearly 85% to 90%, with 55% of the planted crop emerged.

Jacksonville, IL, area: Coming up from the south into the Jacksonville area, nearly 85% of corn fields were planted, and better than 50% of planted corn fields had emerged. Soybean progress stood at 50%, with about 50% of that emerged.

Moweaqua, IL, area: Progress was heavily tilted toward corn. Better than 80% of the corn crop was planted, with about 25% emergence. Soybean progress stood at just over 40% planted and about 40% emerged.

Niantic, IL, area: Almost 70% of soybean fields were planted, with about a third of those planted fields now emerged. Planted corn had passed 75%, with nearly 60% of the crop emerged.

Southern Springfield/northern Macoupin area: Corn planting had hit 90% in that area, with roughly half of the planted crop emerged. Soybean progress stood just shy of 50% planted, with about 60% of the planted crop emerged.

Springfield, IL, area (just east and just west): About 45% of soybean fields were planted, with about 55% of that now emerged. Corn planting progress was closer to two-thirds complete, with better than half of planted fields now emerged.

Cover crops and winter wheat have tripled in size over the past three weeks at our Macon County demonstration site, and beneficial insects are beginning to make their spring appearance. Field activity also is picking up in the area, with planters rolling and sprayers operating in fields I passed.

Temperatures this week ranged from the low 30s to low 80s, with strong winds up to 40 mph and the potential for patchy frost from Saturday night into Monday morning. We received 0.75 to 1.5 inches of rain over the past week, which continues to chip away at the drought, leaving an estimated 3 to 6 inches still needed. Fields have been too wet for much activity the past several days, and additional rain could keep things slow into early next week.

There was a burst of field activity late last week ahead of the rain, with some progress made on tillage, pre-emerge, and anhydrous ammonia applications, though overall activity has been lighter as growers wait for better soil moisture for planting. No known soybeans have been planted locally yet, early-planted corn has started to spike, and reports indicate wheat is already heading in southern Illinois, with several local fields not far behind.

Started off the week with rain, so field conditions have not been optimal for fieldwork. Our area is officially out of the drought. With the ground being moist, people are still preparing for when it becomes dry. While expecting more rain this weekend, the hope is to get conditions dry enough for next week.

We have kept ourselves busy by helping with FFA events, “Land Use Council 4 Envirothon” for Fulton County, Hancock County, McDonough County, Knox County and Warren County, and Ag in the Classroom, “Ag Day for fourth graders.”

Soil temperatures have risen to around 62 degrees. Temperatures are staying warmer throughout the night, which will help keep soil temperatures up and continuing to rise.

Several days of favorable weather and soil conditions had the planters rolling aggressively. More than half of the soybean acres were planted this week, and a few corn acres as well. Spraying has been hampered by consistent high winds, but there are some soil-applied, residual pre-emergence herbicides going down in the early morning hours before the wind picks up. The area received 0.72 inches of rain on Wednesday night, which put a temporary halt to fieldwork.

With the rapid accumulation of GDUs this spring, wheat has already reached growth stage Feekes 8, the critical stage of flag leaf emergence. This leaf is responsible for most of the photosynthesis that drives head fill and grain production. Protecting it against disease and insect damage is important to optimize yield. No visible signs of disease yet, but conditions have shifted toward being favorable for development of several foliar diseases, and storms blowing in from the south could be carrying spores. I will be applying foliar fungicide applications to research plots today, evaluating potential benefits of flag leaf protection. Overlap areas on the nitrogen application are looking prone to lodging at this stage. In the photos, we can still see the freeze damage on the lower leaf and also a little damage near the stem on the middle leaves that appears to be some very early windowpane feeding by cereal leaf beetle. There are a few stink bugs milling about, which could cause problems later as the heads emerge. Time to scout and be diligent.

Until last night, many farmers were in the field over the past eight days applying ammonia or burndown treatments, while others were tilling and planting. It was a very good run, but limited rainfall raised concerns about delayed or uneven corn and soybean emergence. Over the past week, about 135 GDDs have accumulated, with most occurring in the past three days due to warm temperatures. Just under an inch of rain fell overnight, providing needed moisture to support emergence. Field conditions are now too wet for fieldwork for the next several days, and it is too early to evaluate plant stands.

Planting is in full swing in southern Illinois, with some areas to the east finished or close to finishing. Many areas could use rain, which would help get the crop up and going.