I visited fields in western Champaign County this week. Soil conditions are starting to dry in the top inch or so, but there is still plenty of moisture below the surface. Disease in both corn and soybean fields appears to still be minimal. That said, I did come across a couple small pockets in two soybean fields with symptoms consistent with sudden death syndrome. Soybeans are between R5 (beginning pod) and R6 (full pod), with new growth still occurring. Corn fields I visited were in late R4 (dough) into R5 (dent). Representative ears from different fields showed variable ear sizes and degrees of tipback.

Again, sounding like a broken record, hit or miss on rainfall for areas in NE Illinois. This past week some fields received inches while others received tenths. While management decisions are dwindling this late in the growing season, we can still learn from field visits. An area in a soybean field that from the road I predicted to be SDS or BSR turned out to be White Mold. While scouting I’m also noting vines becoming more visible, most on field edges, predominantly morningglories, but also Burcucumber. The morningglories can be frustrating during harvest, but Burcucumber can wrap on the reel and bring harvest to a stop. If you find areas with significant amounts of Burcucumber you may consider a harvest aid treatment. We are almost R5 for both crops, near dent stage in our corn and at or near beginning seed in our soybean. Continued low insect and disease pressure in fields I have visited.

Soils in southwestern Champaign County are now well saturated following several rainy days since last weekend. The Midwestern Regional Climate Center estimates 2.5″ to 4″ across the county, although the true range may be slightly larger. A few corn fields in the area are still showing a good amount of goose necking from high winds earlier in the season and may present harvest challenges if not harvested before stalks loose too much of their integrity. Several corn fields also showed a fairly high level of ear to ear size variability within small areas of the field. Corn in the fields I visited were at early R4 (dough) to early R5 (dent). Soybean fields are well into R5 (beginning seed) with some fields closer to R6 (full seed). There is also some new pods starting to form following the return of soil moisture.

Crop conditions are good. Soybeans are looking better than the corn on average. Lots of tip back in the corn but there are bigger kernels than usual so the yield drop may not be as bad.

Weekend rains delivered much needed relief from severe drought stress. Locally totals ranged from 1.5” to 5.5”. These rains will allow soybeans to hold pods and begin filling the lower pods. It was especially important for corn to allow grain fill without cannibalism of the plant.

Traveled through eastern North Dakota, east central Minnesota and north central Iowa this week. Definitely started where it was the worst and drove to where it was better. North Dakota has the gray shade of death to the corn. Soybeans are ankle to shin high, not a lot of nodes to pull normal yields. Normal yields are 40-50 bushels per acre. More sunflowers around Prosper than I’ve seen in several years. East central Minnesota was greener but very uneven corn fields. Beans were about knee high and with the rain last weekend have some hope. This area went from heading towards preventative plant to planted very quickly this spring. Expecting 30-40 bushels below APH on corn. North central Iowa has had the best looking crop I’ve seen this week. Could use some rain to finish well. Expecting a good crop for corn and beans but not great.