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.