This week came in as a warm one! Growers are finishing planting with the favorable conditions we have had here in Knox County. For me personally, we completed nine plots total last week, two of which are research plots for Western Illinois University and Williamsfield FFA a local FFA chapters Land lab. Sprayers stayed parked for most of the week, and we started to get them ready for post emerge applications.

The weather was beautiful for planting this week. The average temperature was 77 degrees with a slight breeze most days. We even broke out the straw hat this week !! :)

No precipitation this week for us here in West Central Illinois. We definitely could use a shower to soften up our topsoil.

Top soil is a little drier than we would like, however there is still moisture about 1-2 inches down. There is a crust starting to form, but it hasn’t affected emergence too much. A few of our producers have started to dig out the rotary hoes to help planting emergence. Soil temperature is continuing to warm up, but some lighter soils are struggling to get there! Fields with heavy residue are colder than we would like.

Growers continue to work ground in front of the planter and are making replant decisions as plants are starting to emerge. We are seeing some replant conditions on “tough ” light timber soils where the soil conditions were not optimal for planting at the end of last month or early this month. We still have some light soils with heavy residues struggling to warm up.

Knox County soybeans are upwards of 95%+ planted. As we predicted last week, emergence has sped up and crops can be staged at VE to V1. Replant decisions are being made at this time.

As with beans, corn is upwards of 95% + planted here, and it appearing at stages VE to V1 depending on planting date.

Very little wheat in our area but is really taking off with the warm conditions!

We are still seeing white grubs in the furrow and ticks have become more prevalent. Gnats are also starting to appear which are making some outdoor activities not so much fun.

If burndown weed control pass has not been sprayed yet the weeds will be getting a little out of control. Giant ragweed continues to be an issue, and other weeds are germinating as a result of rising soil temperatures and soil moisture. We feel very fortunate here in West Central Illinois to have the majority of our burndown and pre residuals on, in comparison to the rest of the state. On a trip to Southern Illinois University this weekend for graduation, I felt horrible for those in Southern Illinois facing issues getting this accomplished and having weeds take over :(.

None present.

None present.

Planting is being done into good looking rye in some places! Very few in our area planted green. The majority if not all rye and cover crops have been terminated.

This week was a big week of outreach and education. On Monday, area first graders learned all about conservation at the Janet Russell First Grade Environmental Day at Lake Storey Park in Galesburg, Il. I taught a lesson on soils about the weathering process and the three soils separates (sand, silt, and clay). The other 14 stations taught about trees, planting vegetables, controlled prairie fires, insects, in-danger animals, and streams among other things. Tuesday the West Central FS Technology Learning Center hosted fourth grade students from Steele School, also in Galesburg, for a pumpkin field day as part of the Knox County Ag in the Classroom Program. We welcomed over 125 students who learned about machinery operations, seed treatments, got to plant pumpkins on the research center grounds, and even got to take some planted pumpkin seeds home! Wednesday brought us to the Williamsfield FFA in Williamsfield, IL where we helped them “break ground” on their plot for the first time in decades. In the five-acre plot there are 25 varieties and some other field corn with the intention to create a corn maze to bring in some agritourism to the community. There were 50 students and 8 industry professionals present for the special event! This will allow students to have an infield Land Lab learning experience!