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.