Hot and mostly dry conditions continue across the area, with daytime highs in the 90s and soils beginning to crack from limited moisture. Fields are considered mildly dry, which is not uncommon for this region that often misses rainfall events. Ground rigs and airplanes have been busy with fungicide and insecticide applications, while fields with significant weed escapes are receiving additional post treatments. Soybeans are generally at the R1-R3 growth stages. Areas that received heavy early-season rains have faced greater weed control challenges throughout the season.

Crops are generally looking good. The exceptions are fields that suffered earlier issues of waterlogged soils or storm damage. Amaranth weed control has been a problem for non-GMO soybean producers relying on Group 14 herbicides, with insufficient early-season herbicide control of these plants. Dr. Aaron Hager’s research shows improved amaranth control in non-GMO soybeans when metribuzin is applied at appropriate rates either PPI or at planting. Soybean fields vary from the R1 to R4 growth stages.
No-till double-crop soybeans are growing very well, reaching the V3 stage.
Corn fields vary from almost VT to R3 stage. Nitrogen deficiency is apparent in fields where there were waterlogged soils. Corn leaf diseases are beginning to appear – Gray Leaf Spot. Physoderma Brown Spot can be seen in a few isolated fields in the low areas where water stood earlier in the season.

It has been hot and very, dry, but crops seem to be handling it well so far at the ISA farm. A few days of cooler weather, was a nice break, but hot temperatures are in the forecast. Corn is approaching VT and the only diseases that seem to be present are anthracnose on lower leaves and Physoderma brown spot. Most soybeans are R2-R3 with some Septoria brown spot found lower leaves. There are very, few insects in fields. The most prevalent was grape colaspis beetles with minimal feeding. Post herbicides took care of weed pressure. Rain is needed as corn enters reproductive stages.

Timely rainfall across our region brought much-needed relief, helping ease the extreme heat last week and providing more favorable conditions for both the crop and fieldwork. While the cooler temperatures are welcome, they may also create an environment that allows corn and soybeans diseases observed earlier this summer to become more active again. The prolonged stretch of hot halted disease progression over the past few weeks, but we’ll continue to monitor fields closely.

Overall, the crop remains in good condition as corn transitions from pollination into grain fill and soybeans move into pod fill. Continued rainfall over the next few weeks will be critical to help maximize yield potential and carry the crop through the remainder of the growing season. Fungicide remains in full swing this week, with acres being treated by drone, helicopter, airplane, and ground sprayers. Growers work to protect crop health during these key reproductive stages.

We are coming out of a very significant heat wave. Northern Illinois is entering a mild drought with little to no rain in the foreseeable future. The Canadian wildfires smoked most of us in Northern Illinois out for the tail end of the week and well into the weekend. I am very thankful all of that has passed and look forward to some milder temperatures and lower humidity days in the coming weeks.

Corn continues to progress through growth stages as we exit the past week’s heatwave. Most fields I saw were in the R2 blister stage, with some fields in R3 milk. I did not see any R4 dough stage fields, but early plantings could certainly be approaching this. Disease continues to be very low in fields. Small amounts of gray leaf spot were found, and I did confirm the first case of Tar spot in a field in Dekalb Illinois today. It was literally one spot on the lowest leaf of an R2 corn plant, but it is present in fields, and something to be aware of. I urge to continue to scout fields as we enter the most critical growth stages for ear and kernel development. If the disease is not present past R4 dough stage, rarely if ever will a fungicide spray be economically viable.

Soybeans continue to look great across northern Illinois. Beans are averaging R3 first pod development, with nearly all fields beyond R1 flowering. I’ve seen very little to no disease, and the only thing that is holding back bean fields at this point was early season flooding. Overall, not a lot to report on the soybean side as many fields are looking very healthy and robust.

While the temperatures have been sweltering and not much rain has fallen over the last week, crops do not seem to be showing any signs of stress or slowing down. Nearly all of the corn across Logan County has made it at least R1 or R2, with some of the earlier-planted corn already in the R3 stage. The bag is a little more mixed for soybeans. The fields that got planted later or had standing water for much of June are not quite to the reproductive stages yet, but are not far behind. At the Hartsburg Research Plot, a majority of the plants are in the R1 or R2 stage, with some parts of the field not far behind.