Steve Brand
IL Extension
sbbrand2@illinois.edu

Steve Brand
IL Extension
sbbrand2@illinois.edu

Steve Brand UPDATES

Region 1
06/26/2025, DeKalb
Steve Brand

Overall, it’s been a very hot and humid week across northern IL as we begin to move out of the heat dome that has been sitting over us for the past five days. This week alone, we’ve added nearly 200 GDUs from the heat wave in DeKalb County, with seasonal totals reaching 959 GDUs. Isolated rainstorms have brought some relief to drought-stricken areas. Some fields are still showing signs of stress with “pineapple” corn, but overall, the corn crop has looked better this past week. With temperatures expected to remain high as we enter July, I expect early-season stunting or growth delays in both corn and soybeans to be largely overcome.

Corn has begun to shoot up across most fields I scouted. Lake County still has some shorter corn, but as you head further west along the I-88 corridor, the stands get taller—reflecting the pattern of rainfall and the impact of late-spring cool temps. Corn is between V6/V7 and V9/V10 depending on planting date and is nearly 5′ tall in some fields. Much of the drought stress from last week has been alleviated thanks to healthy weekend rains across northern IL, along with isolated storms this week. More storms are expected, and it would be great if some of the drier fields could catch them. I haven’t seen any tar spot or other fungal diseases so far this season, but with rising moisture and temperatures into the 80s, we may begin to see it in the lower canopy. Tar spot has been found in western IL, and you can track its spread at the Crop Protection Network:
https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/maps/tar-spot-of-corn

Soybeans are progressing well. On Wednesday, 6/25/25, I saw the first field beginning to flower as we enter the R1 stage. Fields range from third trifoliate to R1 flowering, depending on environmental conditions and planting dates. The further west you go, the taller the beans, with Lake County again showing some of the shorter growth. Overall, I haven’t seen any early-season diseases, and most visible damage is from herbicide burn following post applications.

Wheat had a strong week of ripening after a cool May and early June. Disease pressure remains low in the fields I scouted, with full heads present. The grain is still quite wet in the head, and plants need more time to mature and dry down. If warm temperatures continue in the upper 80s, I’d expect harvest to begin in some fields around or just after the Fourth of July.

 
Region 1
06/19/2025, DeKalb
Steve Brand

The past couple of weeks have been exceptionally dry for northern Illinois. We’ve had a few sporadic rain events, with rainfall totals being very isolated and regional from pop-up severe storms. The rain we received this past week, including on Wednesday, June 18, has helped move us toward a more normal seasonal total — which was much needed. Much of the area along and north of Interstate 80 has shifted between D0 and D1 drought status, a slight improvement from some localized D2 droughts.

Temperatures are rising, and we’re expecting hot and humid weather in the weeks to come, with more typical temperatures for this time of year. Overall, we had a great week for growing degree units (GDUs), and as of June 18, the DeKalb area has accumulated 740 GDUs.

Corn, for the most part, is very drought-stressed and showing symptoms such as “pineapple corn” — skinny, withered plants across most fields. Crops are varying widely in growth stage, with some fields at V4 pushing into V5 and standing about 15 inches tall, while others are strong, healthy V7 plants measuring 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall. The localized rain from significant pop-up storms over the past week made a noticeable difference. Many fields are either the “haves” or “have-nots” when it comes to rainfall. The two corn photos I posted above are from fields about two miles apart in DeKalb County, clearly illustrating how isolated some of these rain events have been. The rain on June 18 brought anywhere from 0.5 inch to more than 1 inch, depending on how far south you are through the Joliet region.

Soybeans are still slightly stunted from the drought but overall appear healthy. Most fields range between three and five trifoliates, and the added moisture should promote continued growth. I have not seen any early-season diseases, but I’ve noticed minor insect damage across most fields — nothing to write home about. Overall, fields have good stands and vigor and should grow out of the early-season stunting.

I didn’t have a chance to get into any wheat fields this week. The few I drove past and got a quick look at seem to be in Feekes stage 11, around dough stage, and are ripening nicely. I hope to scout for any late-season diseases by next week. With increased GDUs this week and the forecast calling for hotter temperatures, wheat should ripen nicely for an early July harvest.

 
Region 1
06/04/2025, Illinois
Steve Brand

Thank you to everyone doing your best rain dances! June started off with 1.1 inches of much needed rain as we are still in a D1 drought in northern IL with some areas in the freeport area reaching D2. As of Wednesday nearly of all of Northern IL received some moisture, with many areas averaging around 1 inch of rain. Plants around the region are emerged and are progressing through early vegetative states. Plants overall are a bit stunted from the lack of moisture, but should shoot up after the rain and with more rain in the forcast.

Corn: The crop is progressing along. Every field I saw has emerged with most fields ranging between V2 and V4 pushing V5 depending on planting date. Corn looks healthy and green with no disease seen yet.

Soybeans: Soybeans are anywhere between V1 and V3 and emerging uniformly across the region. They are healthy and green, with some areas seeing herbicide drift damage but the plants will grow out of this quickly.

Wheat: The crop is well on its way into Feekes 11 (ripening), or is in the very late stages of Feekes 10.5.3 (full anthesis). I have not seen much if any disease this season thus far with the continued dry weather. With the large rain on Wednesday and more predicted early next week disease may start to creep in with various head blights. Scouting will be your best defense of knowing what is in the field.

Overall the season is moving along quickly and we should be seeing some great growth over the next couple of weeks

 
Region 1
05/29/2025, Illinois
Steve Brand

The recent rains have brought some much needed relief for crops in the early growing season. Northern IL in general still remains in a D1 drought stemming from the dry winter and dry spring. The Dekalb area has received 1.5-2 inches of rain in the past week which has pushed the remaining fields in the region to emergence. May overall has brought under 5 inches of rain to date.

Corn has emerged in most if not all fields. The crop is ranging from VE to pushing V4. The early drought at planting along with cooler temperatures since emergence has stunted the corn slightly, but the crop has great vigor and is showing no signs of major drought stress currently. There are very few wet spots in fields and little to no disease or root rots in fields.

Soybeans are still emerging and pushing through in some of the no-till fields. Fields that have emerged are ranging from VE to V2 with second trifoliates unfolding. Beans overall look healthy with uniform emergence, and are showing no signs of drought or disease.

Wheat is at full head and growth stage Feeks 10.5.3, or full anthesis. The dry conditions have kept disease down overall and fields are looking clean. With the recent rain disease monitoring will continue as we scout for head scab and various seed blights.