Planting is progressing in west central Illinois, though at a slower pace as most fields are already planted and only a few remain. Corn has begun to emerge, and soybean rows are becoming visible.

Northwestern Illinois is in the home stretch of planting. I’ve been able to row quite a few corn fields, and beans have been reported as being up and out of the ground or just about. There are few fields that have yet to be planted.

Weeds such as giant ragweed and common lambsquarters are present in fields I’ve been in, and in one field that had not been worked yet, I saw the invasive weed poison hemlock, which was also present in the adjacent ditch. This serves as a reminder to maintain edge-of-field areas, as they can serve as entry points for invasive species.

Corn and soybean planting in northern LaSalle county both seem to be 60-70% completed with some producers having all their soybeans planted and are now focused on the corn. I’m expecting to see most producers in the area to wrap up planting most of the 2025 crop in the next 2 weeks- maybe less.

Planting has resumed in Northeast Illinois after recent precipitation. Nearly ideal field conditions early to mid-April allowed for an early start to the planting season. Windshield surveys suggest a growing number of area farmers planted some, if not all, soy before corn. Corn that emerged are demonstrating a yellowish cast, the result of earlier cloudy and cool days. A reminder that seedling corn is still largely dependent upon kernel reserves. Once corn reaches the V3 growth stage, seedlings begin the transition to being dependent upon the nodal root system. The cure for the discolored corn, warmer and more cloudless days. For those with alfalfa, just as last year, alfalfa weevil is prevalent in area fields. If the alfalfa has reached 16 inches in height, taking the first cutting is often the preferred management tool for the pest over an insecticide application. Harvesting the alfalfa removes food and shelter and exposes larvae to harmful UV rays. Regrowth in heavily populated weevil fields should be monitored.

West Central & Central IL Report for the Week of May 5

Planting progress is a diverse story in this part of Illinois. As reported last week, the western/north western portion of the area is well ahead of the planting curve.

Areas around Pittsfield, Illinois are nearing 75% planted at the least, and areas around the Illinois River Bottoms stand at a very similar levels of progress (nearly 70%).

Progress is equally impressive toward the Jacksonville area.

A drive east or south tells a different story. The region around and south of Carlinville may struggle to hit 25% and areas south and east of Decatur would struggle to hit those totals as well.

Two-thirds of the planted soybean crop has emerged. A portion of that has hit the two trifoliate stage but most of that crop would be at the unifoliate to early trifoliate stage.

Waterhemp seedlings are evident in some fields, and where growers are able – they are double checking stands, seeing if their final stand matches their initial goal.

Conversations have often clustered around how fast beans have emerged this year, how wooly some fields have become and how welcome sunshine has been given a long stretch of overcast wet days.

Planting continues to roll at a steady pace across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties. While there has been no rain since this past weekend, there is still ample moisture a few inches beneath the soil surface. Warm temps and scant changes of rain in the forecast will help producers finish planting. Of the corn and soybeans that have emerged, nearly all are in the VE stage.

After a wet and cool end of April in Northern IL planting is beginning to ramp up significantly this week. Temps are predicted to be in the 70’s and 80’s moving into next week and planted crops will begin to emerge quickly. As I traveled the Northern corridor in Dekalb county many fields remain to be planted. By early afternoon on Tuesday May 6th many fields were drying out and field tillage followed by planting was occuring. With a warm and dry outlook to finish the week and into the weekend planting condtions will be ideal to get acres in the ground for corn and soy.

Very few fields had emerged for corn, and were around 1 inch tall and V2 or just spiking. I did not see any soybeans emerging quite yet but should start to break through by the end of the week. Wheat in McHenry county was around Feekes 8 with multiple nodes showing on the plants, and was around 8 inches tall with very healthy stands.

In Morris IL conditions were a bit drier and planting was not delayed. Corn was emerging in numerous fields and was around 1-2 inches tall and V2. The corn was somewhat yellow in color from lack on sunshine since emergence but should recover with the predicted forecast calling for sunshine and warmer temperatures. Soybeans were emerging near Morris as well with 1 trifoliate in fields where they emerged. Planting will continue this week for both corn and soy as field conditions will be ideal.

Planting is in full swing with some farmers nearing the end. Sprayers and planters are rolling along. Weather conditions have been pretty favorable for May thus far. For fields that were first planted, we’re starting to see some good emergence. Looks like the remainder of the week will be favorable for continued planting.

Although planting progress has stalled in Champaign County recently, the crop that was planted before the recent bout of rainstorms is emerging. From my survey in the southern half of Champaign County on May 6, many of the higher and dryer fields I observed had been planted with the crop emerged in perhaps 30-40% of those fields. However, many of the fields in that portion of the county remained unplanted at the time of my survey due to the moderately wet soil conditions. Standing water was only present in a few field corners/headlands, but this ponding was not widespread across large portions of fields. With warmer, dryer weather in the forecast for this week and next, I suspect many farmers will make quite a bit of progress over the next 7-10 days. The couple wheat fields I found during my survey were both at boot stage and looking healthy so far. Most of the cover cropped and/or no-till fields I observed had received their burndown applications, with the exception of one cereal rye field that was headed out but not quite at anthesis.

Planting of soybeans is coming to an end here in the west central part of the state. Corn planting is in full swing as soil conditions are as favorable as they have been in a long time for April. Many worked through the weekend to get as much done as possible before the rain forecasted for mid-week. Sprayers continue to roll as they strive to keep up with planters to ensure that all planted crop is covered. Soybean burndown and pre-emergence chemistries are on track to be done with in a day or two if not done already after soils dry up from the rain that we received Wednesday- Friday. The rain we received was enough to activate all of the residual herbicides being applied.