Conditions have been mixed for fieldwork in Logan County over the last week. Sporadic rain showers have limited some field operations, but there are no signs of delay for most producers. There are still a good number of fields that need to be planted, with warmer temperatures over the coming days surely to provide the right conditions to get seeds in the ground. Corn and soybeans that have emerged appear healthy, with no obvious signs of frost or heavy rainfall damage.

Cooler than average temperatures have remained in the east central Illinois region. That, combined with the 4 to 6″ of rain much of the region has received over the past 30 days, continues to slow planting progress and early crop growth. In southern Vermilion County this week, soils were just drying up enough for field work and planting to resume. I saw a number of fields that had been tilled and/or planted in the past couple days, as well as several planters rolling down the roads and in fields during my Wednesday morning survey. About 10% of fields had emerged crop, with the most advanced fields of corn at V3-V4 and soybeans at VC-V1. In those fields, damage from the recent storms was visible on early-emerged leaves, but new growth is intact and looking healthy.

A favorable week for field work in the region. Many corn and soy fields were planted and operations continue in the area. Earlier planted corn appears to be emerging with a slight advantage to soy. This week we will be starting the aphid suction collection trap in Morris, part of the Suction Trap Network that will be monitored through October. This trapping program is led by Dr. Doris Lagos-Kutz, Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute. The program generates data on aphids and other beneficial and pest insects across multiple states. (https://suctiontrapnetwork.org/)
While corn and soy crops are waiting for consistently warm weather to expedite growth, several weed species have flowered or grown rapidly in untreated or unworked fields. They include the yellow flowered winter annual Butterweed, and the early emerging summer annual Giant Ragweed.

As of the middle part of the week, row crop status seemed to be as follows:

Planted corn acres stand at 90% with 7% planted, but not yet emerged. Better than 40% of the crop was at V1 with roughly 18% of the crop in the V3 to V4 growth stage.

Planted soybean acres stand at 88% with about 10% of the crop planted, but not yet emerged. Better than one third of the crop was at or just past the unifoliate stage. Almost 20% of the crop was displaying one to two trifoliates.

Hay producers seized a brief lull in rain to get about 85% of alfalfa cut. As of this report, about 5% had been baled.

The wheat crop continues to progress rapidly with growers beginning to speculate cutting the crop a couple weeks earlier than the norm.

By Tuesday, growers in many locations began to apply herbicides.

While a portion of the planted crop will need to be replanted or augmented due to ponding and crusting (some locations saw a few inches of rain over the past week), actual replant numbers feel lower than one might have thought a week ago.

70-80 degree temps have finally allowed more recently planted crop to emerge. The warm spell has begun to nudge a portion of the crop from “ugly yellows” to healthier green.

Wind and rain have slowed fieldwork over the past two weeks, with 1.5 to 3.5 inches of scattered rainfall. On May 4, brief field activity occurred, but high winds caused a dust storm and emergency alerts. A few growers are now working drier fields. Soybeans are emerging (VE), and corn ranges from VE to V2, with some replanting needed due to standing water. Wheat across Region 5 is at Feekes 10 to 10.5.1 and generally looks very good, though some winter annuals remain in unworked fields.

We are noticing a trend in weather with rain patterns at the beginning of the week, suspending fieldwork for many farmers until typically late Wednesday or early Thursday due to cold, overcast weather conditions following the rain events. Weather continues to be an issue, with cooler temperatures in the 30s at night and frost as we wake up in the morning. This slows the pace for everyone as we wait for the sun to shine and temperatures to climb to get field activity rolling in the mornings. The struggle to get soil conditions near optimal continues as farmers try to finish planting season and we try to finish pre-herbicide applications. With more rainfall in the forecast next week, we may see the same trends again. Many conversations focus on the weather and what the right thing to do is with current forecasts. Many are getting anxious, but we reflect on the past few years and how great the conditions have been in our territory.