It has been almost a month since we had any rain. The previous heat and dry weather has pushed senescence, especially in the early planted crops. Harvest has just started in the area and yields have been positive. Various ear rots can be found as well as some stalk rot in corn.

The season is winding down but diseases seem to be flaring as previously applied fungicides fade. Tar spot is gaining ground with cooler temps. It will flourish on corn that is in later growth stages. As corn approaches R5, many may choose not to spray. Downy mildew appeared in soybeans. Fungicides are useless against it. Overall, crops appear in good shape with April corn still looking better than Mid-May planted corn.

The good news is that it rained, but the bad news is it has not stopped for a few days now. The mid May planted corn is at brown silk and hopefully successfully pollinated. April planted soybeans are tall and a bit tangled after recent storms. No major issues found. Bacterial blight seems to reappeared after cool and wet weather.

April planted corn has fully pollinated. Both corn and soybeans have had fungicide and insecticide applications. The late May planted soybeans are not there yet and only at R2. Mid May soybeans have canopied. Stink bug feeding and bacterial leaf diseases showing up in corn. Could use more rain soon.

A very, welcomed inch of rain came last week and crops have been relieved from drought stress. Even though the extreme heat has ceased, the humidity is high. Diseases such as Septoria brown spot in soybeans and gray leaf spot in corn have started to show on lower leaves. Japanese beetle feeding has increased. April planted corn is almost pollinated and soybeans are R3.

There has been almost no rain for a month. Early planted corn is pollinating. Japanese beetle populations are building and more being in field edges. Mid-May planted soybeans are just R1 and recently had a post herbicide application. The only disease found on corn was Physoderma brown spot. No fungicide needed or applied. Fingers crossed for some rain in the coming week.

Hot and dry! Soybean quickly approaching R2 with some very, healthy, waterhemp that survived the last herbicide application. No disease, deer feeding in patches, and slight insect pressure.

No rain in the last few weeks and the heat has started. Corn is at V8 and V6 growth stages. Soybeans are at R1, V2/V3, and VC. No pests or diseases found. Sulfur deficiency showing in V6 corn with weaker root systems. Waterhemp breaking through in V2/V3 soybeans.

The last field planted a week ago is up and soybean populations look good. Post Herbicide going on R1 soybeans before more rain in the forecast. Some morningglory and waterhemp escapes after post herbicide in corn. Bacterial blight coming on strong in R1 soybeans and Anthracnose blight as well as common rust starting to show up on lower leaves in V7 corn. No major insect issues besides scattered stinkbug injury in corn.

If you stop and listen, you can hear the corn (and soybeans) growing. April planted corn is V6, April planted beans are V3, May planted corn is V3, May planted soybeans are VC. No weeds thanks to a post herbicide spray and some side dressing Nitrogen. Minor bean leaf beetle feeding on soybeans.