Rain again after 3 days of field work. Corn maybe 10% planted in our 10 counties. Soybeans planting less than that. A few March beans are in first trifoliate (V1).

Field work of all types is underway. The last 2 days of 30+mph wind has hampered spraying operations but spring tillage and planting operations are continuing.

Spring burndown continues for some when it’s not windy. Corn and soybean plantings are well underway. The race is on for some before the rain that’s expected Wednesday and Thursday.

We were starting to almost be dry enough to start fieldwork again but it rained today. The mid March planted corn and soybeans have just emerged. The previous winds have brought significant flights of cutworm moths in traps.

After receiving a significant amount of rain (1.5-2.0) over 2-3 days, planting and spraying halted until late week, with sprayers rolling again on Thursday. These wet conditions allowed everyone to catch up on maintenance items, mapping boundaries, and ultimately not feeling guilty about taking some family time Easter Sunday. We anticipate planting to resume Friday into the weekend as conditions become more favorable. There was also learning opportunities to “sharpen the blade” such as Illinois Soybean Association’s Agronomy Team’s Q&A webinar and other industry insight webinars.

Following weekend rainfall (4/18–4/21), most of the area received 1–1.5″. By Wednesday (4/23), fields had dried out enough for farmers to get back to work. Tillage ramped up midweek as we enjoyed sunshine, calm winds, and temps reaching the 80s. Soil temperatures have been hovering in the mid-50s. Soybeans are going in, corn planting is underway, and ag retailers are staying busy with dry fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia, and preplant herbicide applications.
Field work is moving quickly as farmers take advantage of the favorable conditions ahead of Friday’s forecasted rain.

In the fields of Knox County and the surrounding areas, we are seeing soybean planters rolling, sprayers running, and what is presenting to be purple henbit weed popping up across the majority of the fields. Early in the week, planting conditions were ideal, with a slight weather delay mid-week, but by Thursday evening, growers were going again.

Drying field conditions , rivers still above flood stage. Work in uplands progressing very well.

Soil temps are increasing in our no-till field that will be planted to soybeans. I’m hearing that many farmers either started planting this past weekend or going to get in the fields early this week. Spring burn down going on when they can catch a break with the wind.

We kicked off #plant25 by planting 4.0 maturity soybean. We are taking advantage of a very, small planting window before a long stint of forecasted rain.