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.