Weather continues to be the story for our region. Luckily, the week of May 31st, we were able to have a productive week in the fields spraying post emergence corn and soybean herbicide applications along with dry fertilizer top dress applications. The week of June 7th has been surrendered due to unpredictable precipitation and severe weather events throughout the region. Flash flooding has been a concern with rainfall totals nearing 10 inches in parts of our region. With this heavy rainfall and saturated soils, many fields have corn leaning. Weeds continue to be a problem and a concern in our crop fields, with the uncertainty of when we will be able to return to post herbicide applications. Corn growth and development have skyrocketed these past few weeks, with high humidity and warmer temperatures driving growth. Soybeans seem to be taking off as well, but 30-inch rows are a way away from canopy. Lightning bugs indicate scouting for corn rootworm will be necessary in the coming weeks. With the heavy rain this past week, it was a perfect opportunity for us to take a couple of days to support and connect with our local FFA section and chapters at the 98th Illinois FFA State Convention.

Another week, more beautiful and perfect weather for outdoor activities. More notably, another week of little to no rain as we continue to progress into an early summer drought. Most of northern Illinois would be considered to be in a D1 moderate drought as of now. The forecast is promising, with chances this weekend, and most of next week to remedy how dry it has been. With moisture in the forecast, disease monitoring, and keeping an eye on weed pressure should come back into focus. Between corn, soybeans, and wheat I have seen little to no disease to this point in the season which is a great start with how wet April was.

If I could describe the growing season in one word, it would be variable. Varying planting dates, emergence dates, growth stages within the same fields of corn and soybeans. We are seeing ranges of anywhere from stuggling to emerge, to 3rd trifoliate or V3 in corn within many fields across the area. Hopefully the rain will even these patches across the fields over time, but some significant differences are being seen across corn and soybeans.

Wheat is in early feekes 11 or ripening stage. Fields look healthy with little disease, and the weather has progressed the crop nicely as they begin to enter senescence.

Thats all for this week, and we shall see what sort of rain we get in the next week!

While crops across Logan County continue to look healthy, the lack of rainfall over the last week is starting to show some signs of stress, particularly in later-planted fields. The fields that were planted earlier in the season are in the V4-6 stage for corn and soybeans, with later-planted fields in the V2 stage. The first cutting of hay fields has also wrapped up across the county, with the hope of timely rains providing a good jumpstart for regrowth.

Soybeans vary from V2 to V5 in general, with some fields showing the effects of early crusted soils and reduced emergence in those areas. Tall waterhemp has reached the 4-inch stage by the middle of the week. Corn varies from V2 to V7. All the crops have good color in spite of it being dry for the past 14 days. NOAA shows that the 3-county area has 2 to 3 inches below average rainfall over the past 2 weeks. Grass is browning in the lawns.
First cutting hay is being made. Sidedressing of corn is wrapping up, and post-emergent herbicide applications are in full swing.

The unusually cool start to our growing season had April and early May planted beans sitting in the ground for 2 to 3 weeks in many places. A very slow start to plant development has finally began turning around as we are seeing beans really taking off in the last week or so. Earliest beans are into V3, but bulk of the crop V1-V2. Conditions are turning dry but looking to get moisture in the next coming days.

A dry week in the Northeast region, corn picked up one additional leaf (V6) and soy pushed out another trifoliate (now V2) in the fields that I am observing on a weekly basis. Hay harvest, nitrogen sidedressing, and post herbicide applications are all taking place. With the comparatively quick onset of dry conditions and stress on both crops and weeds, farmers are encouraged to evaluate post herbicide applications at least a week after application. Environmental stress, including drought, can slow active growth and herbicide solution absorption in plants, decreasing herbicide effectiveness on targeted weeds.