All of my three-county area is in some form of drought, with part of it in “D2, Severe Drought.” Crops are maturing rapidly. Due to environmental stress and drought, corn is showing top die-back and firing leaves up to or near the ear. Soybean fields are quickly maturing, with the upper node or nodes of pods having two seeds instead of three.

The past two weeks have seen late-season leaf diseases appear in area fields: tar spot, common rust, southern rust, gray leaf spot, and others. A few farmers have taken out end rows in corn fields. In moderate drought areas, corn fields have fired up to the ear in the drier parts of the fields. Corn fields are in the dent stage (R5), and a few fields are in the mature stage (R6).

Soybean fields are turning yellow, reaching the R7 (beginning maturity) stage, with early-maturity soybean fields at or nearly at the R8 (full maturity) stage.

Soybeans in many fields are reaching the R6, or full seed, stage, and late-season insect and disease pests are beginning to appear. A few fields are nearing R7, or beginning maturity.

Soil moisture conditions across the three counties vary from wet to moderate drought. Rainfall has been quite variable across this area.

Soybeans planted in April are in the R5 (full pod) stage. The April-planted corn is in the R4 or R5 stage. Crops look good even in the dry areas at this time.

Weed control has been very good. I have noticed that conventionally farmed soybean fields with weed issues typically only have a problem with one weed group—either the Amaranthus family or velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Grassy weeds have not been an issue across the area in conventionally farmed fields.

Soil moisture conditions across the three counties vary from normal to moderate drought.
Soybeans planted in April are in the R5 stage (Full Pod), and the April-planted corn is in the R4 stage (Dough), with ear tip kernels starting to dent.

Over the past two weeks, heavy rains have fallen in some areas, and Red Crown Rot is beginning to appear where those high rainfalls occurred. If you suspect Red Crown Rot, send a plant sample to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic for positive identification.

Remember, interveinal chlorosis of soybean leaves can be caused by Brown Stem Rot, Sudden Death Syndrome, or Red Crown Rot.

It has been a tale of the “haves and have-nots” with regard to rainfall. The far southern areas of Macon and Piatt Counties are at near-to-above-normal rainfall levels, with the majority of the three counties hovering around 50% of normal rainfall.

In the dry areas, grasshopper populations are increasing. Some foliar feeding by Japanese beetles and grasshoppers is visible, but so far the levels are below the threshold for control.

Currently, the corn and soybean crops are looking good. Some corn in the drier areas has fired on the lower leaves.

Soybeans vary from V5 to R3 (beginning pod), and corn varies from V10 to R2 (blister), with most of the corn crop in the R1 stage. Weed control is generally looking good; however, the amaranths are beginning to poke above the soybean canopy in some soybean fields.

Rainfall over the past 14 days has been over 150% of normal in southern Macon and Piatt counties, and less than 25% of normal through the balance of the three-county area.

Currently, the corn and soybean crops are looking good. Soybeans range from V3 to R2 (full bloom), while corn varies from V7 to R1 (silking), with most of the crop at V10+ and some expected to reach VT before July 4. Weed control is generally looking good. Alfalfa fields are ready for the second cutting.

The crop conditions across my 3-county area vary from V3 to V7 stage corn, and the soybeans range from unifoliate to blooming. Sidedressing of corn is completed with post-emergent herbicide applications still taking place. The corn and soybean crops look good with few problems.
The few wheat fields in the area are looking good where preventative fungicides were applied earlier. Wheat fields without preventative fungicide applications have numerous diseases present.

The crop conditions across my 3-county area vary from just planted corn to V4 stage corn. The soybean fields are much the same with newly planted to almost V3 (3rd trifoliate). Sidedressing of corn and post emergent weed control are in progress. Crops look good except for fields that have experienced severe weather damage.