Conditions have remained favorable for crop growth across Logan County over the last week. Nearly all of the fields across the county have been planted and emerged. Some of the earlier-planted corn has reached V3 or V4 stages, with most corn still in the V1-V2 stage. For soybeans, the earlier-planted fields are in the V2 stage, while most others are in the VC-V1 stage.

The crop conditions across my 3-county area vary from just planted corn to V4 stage corn. The soybean fields are much the same with newly planted to almost V3 (3rd trifoliate). Sidedressing of corn and post emergent weed control are in progress. Crops look good except for fields that have experienced severe weather damage.

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.

A considerable amount of planting has taken place over the last two weeks. A decent number of cornfields are spiking around the county. I’ve also spotted a couple of soybean fields around V2. The photo I’m adding is one of those fields, where the stand was a little spotty and it had already been replanted, with the interseeded beans just cracking the surface. The last major storm predicted over Memorial Day weekend fizzled out, which helped planting considerably.

Wheat is starting to senesce in areas damaged by standing water. While the bulk of the field is still green, it’s clear we are just a few weeks out from maturity.

Across the county, corn is between VE and about V4 while soybeans are yet to emerge or at about V1. The rainfall received over the past couple weeks has been well received – the crop looks healthy and green. Surprisingly given the rain, there aren’t yet any significant weed flushes, but scouting is recommended to identify any moving forward.

Most of the 2025 crop has emerged in the last 3 weeks. Stands look good by and large. Some of the early fields did get a bit of crust and needed a hoe in the absence of a timely rain. Corn stages range from V5 on the first planted fields to VE-V1. Soybeans are mostly VE to VC but we do see some trifoliate leaves here and there. The cool temps over the last 10 days or so have slowed crop growth across the board potentially negating some of the advantage of early planting. Warmer weather is in the forecast but not much rain.