Field work of all types is underway. The last 2 days of 30+mph wind has hampered spraying operations but spring tillage and planting operations are continuing.

Spring burndown continues for some when it’s not windy. Corn and soybean plantings are well underway. The race is on for some before the rain that’s expected Wednesday and Thursday.

We were starting to almost be dry enough to start fieldwork again but it rained today. The mid March planted corn and soybeans have just emerged. The previous winds have brought significant flights of cutworm moths in traps.

After receiving a significant amount of rain (1.5-2.0) over 2-3 days, planting and spraying halted until late week, with sprayers rolling again on Thursday. These wet conditions allowed everyone to catch up on maintenance items, mapping boundaries, and ultimately not feeling guilty about taking some family time Easter Sunday. We anticipate planting to resume Friday into the weekend as conditions become more favorable. There was also learning opportunities to “sharpen the blade” such as Illinois Soybean Association’s Agronomy Team’s Q&A webinar and other industry insight webinars.

Following weekend rainfall (4/18–4/21), most of the area received 1–1.5″. By Wednesday (4/23), fields had dried out enough for farmers to get back to work. Tillage ramped up midweek as we enjoyed sunshine, calm winds, and temps reaching the 80s. Soil temperatures have been hovering in the mid-50s. Soybeans are going in, corn planting is underway, and ag retailers are staying busy with dry fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia, and preplant herbicide applications.
Field work is moving quickly as farmers take advantage of the favorable conditions ahead of Friday’s forecasted rain.

In the fields of Knox County and the surrounding areas, we are seeing soybean planters rolling, sprayers running, and what is presenting to be purple henbit weed popping up across the majority of the fields. Early in the week, planting conditions were ideal, with a slight weather delay mid-week, but by Thursday evening, growers were going again.