Corn is at R5 (dent) and most soy is at R6 (full seed), fields that still have green tissue are benefitting from recent rainfall. Areas that experienced drought conditions after pollination and during grain fill can expect corn kernel abortion near the ear tip and smaller and lighter kernels. This would be a good year to check stalk strength among hybrids and plan field harvest order accordingly. Some encouragement to hand-pull surviving Waterhemp in fields before they produce viable seed. Last week at the Farm Progress Show Dr. Aaron Hager’s team demonstrated Waterhemp samples collected from populations that were resistant to six herbicide modes of action. This includes Group 4, the growth regulators which include 2,4-D and dicamba. It has been an uneventful insect pest year to date; however, Soybean aphids were recently collected in Northeast Illinois by the Suction Trap Network https://suctiontrapnetwork.org/ and Stink bugs are easily found in soy fields I have visited.