Corn is solidly into dent(R5) but later planted fields still have milky kernels. First crop beans are still filling out pods, or aborting at the uppermost nodes due to the consistently dry weather. Just in the past week, some fields have started yellowing. Double crop beans are also in R6, and could benefit from rain if this tropical storm does blow up from the Gulf.

It has been almost a month since we had any rain. The previous heat and dry weather has pushed senescence, especially in the early planted crops. Harvest has just started in the area and yields have been positive. Various ear rots can be found as well as some stalk rot in corn.

Crops are loving this cooler weather we have had. It will prolong our grain fill period in corn and allow the soybeans to progress at a nice pace.

Many crops across Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counties are getting closer to harvest. Much of the earlier-planted corn and soybeans have turned color and are nearing R6 (physiological maturity). The later-planted crops still have some time to go, but they are not far behind. Parts of the area, mainly Sangamon County, received some good rainfall last week, adding some needed topsoil moisture. There should now be enough moisture to see us through to harvest.

Another dry week, in travels across northeast Illinois we see both green corn and soy fields and in others, plants that have browned, dropped leaves and are likely only weeks from harvest. We have had reports of hand shelled corn samples near 30% moisture. For areas that had heavier soils, received timely rains and had higher water holding capacity, the yields will be impressive. A visit to the Sandwich Fair this week judging corn entries demonstrated sizeable ears. If they are representative, it will be interesting to see final yields from these locations. Somewhat of a surprise, we are finding pockets of white mold in some soy. Even though the symptoms (dead plants) are easily visible now, the initial infection took place when the soy was in the R1 to R3 stage. Harvesting white mold infected soy last and then cleaning your combine can limit the spread of sclerotia, the overwintering structures of this disease, to other areas or fields. Tar spot continues it spread in corn, even in earlier fungicide treated fields.

Early planted corn has reached “black layer” with the milkline nearly reaching the tip of the kernel. Late planted corn is in late R4 stage. Early planted soybean leaves are turning yellow and nearly at R7 stage. Double cropped soybeans are reaching the R5 stage. Crops are maturing quickly. Some stinkbug pod feeding is being seen.