Currently, the corn and soybean crops are looking good. Soybeans range from V3 to R2 (full bloom), while corn varies from V7 to R1 (silking), with most of the crop at V10+ and some expected to reach VT before July 4. Weed control is generally looking good. Alfalfa fields are ready for the second cutting.

The high temperatures over the last week have caused many corn fields to grow at a rapid pace. There is hardly a corn field that isn’t knee-high—one week before the Fourth of July. At the University Research Plot in Hartsburg, IL, corn is at the V9–V10 stage, with other fields in the area at V7–V8. Soybeans have faced a tougher challenge with the high temps. While some fields are handling the heat well, many are showing signs of stress, including cupped leaves. There are no additional signs of insect or disease pressure yet, but continued high temperatures will likely lead to more issues.

The heat this week has certainly helped move the crop along in Champaign County. And despite a couple of pop-up showers, it has also helped dry out fields enough for post-emergence herbicide applications, which were needed—and probably a couple of weeks past due—in several soybean fields. Soybeans with good early-season weed control remain relatively clean. Many soybean fields are starting to flower (R1) or have reached full flower (R2), but there are still plenty of later-planted fields in earlier vegetative growth stages (V2–V3).

Early corn is about head high, around V14–V15. Brace roots are just starting to emerge in these fields, which will help in some cases where plants are still leaning from last week’s strong windstorm. Later corn is generally in the V6–V8 range and starting to grow more rapidly. I passed one wheat field already harvested during my survey and a few others that were fully mature (Feekes 11.4) and not far from harvest themselves.

Although the heat and break from the rain were needed for many farmers to wrap up early-season field operations, conditions could quickly tip toward the dry side with rapidly growing (and transpiring) crops. As always, timely rains will be critical to replenish soil moisture and minimize stress during these hot summer days.

Central/West-Central Illinois Crop Report 6/23/25

A drive through WC/C IL late last week showed a sizable fraction of the soybean crop still fighting to get past the “early-season” uglies—the typical yellow-green look we see every year. That story began to shift over the weekend as heat drove further root development, turning the countryside (in many places) a more satisfying dark green.

As we would expect, given variable planting dates, crop development remains diverse. The bean crop currently averages 6 to 7 nodes, with the earliest-planted fields showing 10 to 11 nodes and the latest-planted showing 3 to 4. Rows in many areas have begun to canopy, and our first batch of flowers can now be observed in several locations.

Weed control has been a recent point of discussion. Some of those conversations have included concerns about damaging the first flush of flowers, particularly where weed pressure has been more difficult to manage.

The southeastern portion of this area is experiencing what Southern Illinoisans know too well—the rain never wanted to shut off, and now it seems to have disappeared.

Japanese beetle emergence began last week, and grape colaspis adults will soon follow.

In other row crop news, tassels began emerging in our earliest-planted corn fields over the weekend. Most of the corn crop is still several leaves away from the reproductive stage, but kernel establishment is approaching quickly.

Wheat harvest will soon knock on the door, and hay bales are beginning to dot fields across the area.

Some late vegetative corn fields (V12+) in Menard County and northwestern Sangamon County are severely lodged from the tornadoes that went through the area on Wednesday (6/18). While some fields lay flat, there seems to be minimal snapping. Other later-planted corn fields in the region range in their vegetative stages (V5–V10) and were left standing after the high winds.

Soybeans appear unharmed by the storms and are starting to flower, although later-planted fields are still around the V4–V5 stage. While scouting, we noticed that Japanese beetles and grape colaspis beetles were beginning to appear, but in very low populations, and leaf-feeding damage was few and far between. Many fields are still growing out of foliar damage from their post-herbicide applications.

A wheat field in Menard County was starting to turn and will likely be ready to harvest within the next couple of weeks.

After the strong storms that passed through the region yesterday (June 18), most fields in northern Vermilion County are saturated, with a little standing water in low-lying areas and compacted headlands. The storms also brought strong winds, but fortunately, the damage to crops seems to be minimal in that part of the county.

Most corn in the area was leaning, but there were only a couple of areas where the crop was nearly flat. The affected corn was on the more advanced end of the crop growth range in the region, which is around the V8 to V10 growth stages. However, I saw minimal greensnap, so much of that corn, which is currently horizontal, will likely recover — albeit with a goosenecked stalk. Later-planted corn, generally in the V3 to V4 range, was affected little by the winds.

Soybeans ranged in growth stage from V1/V2 to R1, with some earlier-maturity soybeans starting to open their first flowers. Weed control in both corn and soybeans was mixed, with the wet conditions likely contributing to an inability for farmers to get timely postemergence herbicide applications completed.

I found a couple of wheat fields during my survey, both of which were in the Feekes 11.2 growth stage, with kernel starches at a “soft dough” consistency.

The past couple of weeks have been exceptionally dry for northern Illinois. We’ve had a few sporadic rain events, with rainfall totals being very isolated and regional from pop-up severe storms. The rain we received this past week, including on Wednesday, June 18, has helped move us toward a more normal seasonal total — which was much needed. Much of the area along and north of Interstate 80 has shifted between D0 and D1 drought status, a slight improvement from some localized D2 droughts.

Temperatures are rising, and we’re expecting hot and humid weather in the weeks to come, with more typical temperatures for this time of year. Overall, we had a great week for growing degree units (GDUs), and as of June 18, the DeKalb area has accumulated 740 GDUs.

Corn, for the most part, is very drought-stressed and showing symptoms such as “pineapple corn” — skinny, withered plants across most fields. Crops are varying widely in growth stage, with some fields at V4 pushing into V5 and standing about 15 inches tall, while others are strong, healthy V7 plants measuring 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall. The localized rain from significant pop-up storms over the past week made a noticeable difference. Many fields are either the “haves” or “have-nots” when it comes to rainfall. The two corn photos I posted above are from fields about two miles apart in DeKalb County, clearly illustrating how isolated some of these rain events have been. The rain on June 18 brought anywhere from 0.5 inch to more than 1 inch, depending on how far south you are through the Joliet region.

Soybeans are still slightly stunted from the drought but overall appear healthy. Most fields range between three and five trifoliates, and the added moisture should promote continued growth. I have not seen any early-season diseases, but I’ve noticed minor insect damage across most fields — nothing to write home about. Overall, fields have good stands and vigor and should grow out of the early-season stunting.

I didn’t have a chance to get into any wheat fields this week. The few I drove past and got a quick look at seem to be in Feekes stage 11, around dough stage, and are ripening nicely. I hope to scout for any late-season diseases by next week. With increased GDUs this week and the forecast calling for hotter temperatures, wheat should ripen nicely for an early July harvest.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to visit a field with probably the worst grape colaspis injury I have seen. Note the phosphorus deficiency symptoms on the lower leaves of many plants and the aggregated nature of the injured plants. Usually, we see this in fairly isolated areas of a field—often at the high points—and several nearby fields had this more limited injury. But in this particular case, much of the field was affected. When you see this kind of injury above ground, dig up the plant and look for larvae, which resemble tiny white grubs. Some plants in this field had as many as eight or nine larvae on them, and we found at least one pupa. These should cycle out into adulthood soon.

Still wet. We had one brief window last week in which a little more planting took place, followed by a few more inches of rain. Most fields are planted, but not all—still about 5–10% unplanted in this region. Temperatures in the high 90s are expected over the next several days, so maybe that’ll dry things up enough to finish the first crop. Hot weather should also help bring the wheat crop down the home stretch. The grain is almost dry, but fields are still wet. Hopefully, there will be enough evaporation to avoid rutting up fields during wheat harvest.

Recent precipitation in Northeast Illinois ranged from 1+ to over 4 inches of accumulated rainfall. Some edge-of-field wind damage was noted in corn fields. The earliest planted soybeans are starting to flower, entering the reproductive stage of the crop. The most mature corn has reached, or is near, V10 to V11.

A reminder: if scouting mature corn, lower leaves will start to drop. In these cases, the first measurable internodal space is generally between the 5th and 6th node. Recognizing this provides a starting point at V6 when staging older corn. Depending on corn hybrids, expect between 15 to 20 leaves prior to tassel emergence. This is an important period of rapid growth as the corn plant creates leaves and stalks to provide photosynthate for the ear and developing kernels.

I’m a strong advocate of spending time on the ground scouting fields and recognizing any manageable issues that may arise. That said, I can also appreciate drone imagery for providing different perspectives on the developing crop. I have had mixed experiences with drones, but I have to admit the newer generation is more user-friendly. For those with access, collecting aerial images as the soy and corn crops transition from vegetative to reproductive stages can provide insight during end-of-season crop evaluations.