Most of our field tiles still have very light discharge. Planting progress at 98%. Waiting on some organic growers to get finished up.

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

At the time of my survey (6/3) in northern Champaign County, soil moisture conditions were near normal in the top several inches, although some wet corners and low areas of fields could still be found. But with about an inch of rain falling on Wednesday (6/4), soils are currently a little on the wet side. Overall, the corn and soybean crops are looking healthy in the area with some of the corn starting to take off. The average growth stage of corn fields encountered during my survey was around V3-V4 with some of the earlier planted fields reaching V6-V7. Side-dress ammonia was being applied in a few corn fields in the area, as well. Soybeans were largely in the VC-V1 range, with a few fields a bit further along. Weed control looked good, for the most part, and post-emergence herbicide applications had been made in many of the soybean fields visited. Wheat fields surveyed were finished flowering (Feekes 10.5.4) but developing kernels are still in the “watery ripe” stage.

Soybeans are VC to V3 depending on planting date. Corn is V5 to V1 depending on planting date. Crop has seemed to stall with the cool weather. We are dry, but there is still adequate subsoil moisture. Rain and heat are in the forecast for this week – both will be welcomed!

There are still planters out in the field, mostly replanting both corn and soybeans. There are some fields with less than desired stands and they really seem to be showing up from the road. There are also side-dressing of corn as well as post herbicide applications being made on corn and earlier planted soybeans. No major pests or diseases. Excited for the heat this week to get some crop growth.

1 inch rain over night. 85% done planting corn and soybeans. 50% emerged or bigger. Last 10 days insane progress planting. Sidedress UAN Beginning on early planted corn. Some post soybean spraying in areas.