Planting is in full swing with some farmers nearing the end. Sprayers and planters are rolling along. Weather conditions have been pretty favorable for May thus far. For fields that were first planted, we’re starting to see some good emergence. Looks like the remainder of the week will be favorable for continued planting.

Planting has resumed in Northeast Illinois after recent precipitation. Nearly ideal field conditions early to mid-April allowed for an early start to the planting season. Windshield surveys suggest a growing number of area farmers planted some, if not all, soy before corn. Corn that emerged are demonstrating a yellowish cast, the result of earlier cloudy and cool days. A reminder that seedling corn is still largely dependent upon kernel reserves. Once corn reaches the V3 growth stage, seedlings begin the transition to being dependent upon the nodal root system. The cure for the discolored corn, warmer and more cloudless days. For those with alfalfa, just as last year, alfalfa weevil is prevalent in area fields. If the alfalfa has reached 16 inches in height, taking the first cutting is often the preferred management tool for the pest over an insecticide application. Harvesting the alfalfa removes food and shelter and exposes larvae to harmful UV rays. Regrowth in heavily populated weevil fields should be monitored.

Although planting progress has stalled in Champaign County recently, the crop that was planted before the recent bout of rainstorms is emerging. From my survey in the southern half of Champaign County on May 6, many of the higher and dryer fields I observed had been planted with the crop emerged in perhaps 30-40% of those fields. However, many of the fields in that portion of the county remained unplanted at the time of my survey due to the moderately wet soil conditions. Standing water was only present in a few field corners/headlands, but this ponding was not widespread across large portions of fields. With warmer, dryer weather in the forecast for this week and next, I suspect many farmers will make quite a bit of progress over the next 7-10 days. The couple wheat fields I found during my survey were both at boot stage and looking healthy so far. Most of the cover cropped and/or no-till fields I observed had received their burndown applications, with the exception of one cereal rye field that was headed out but not quite at anthesis.

Planting of soybeans is coming to an end here in the west central part of the state. Corn planting is in full swing as soil conditions are as favorable as they have been in a long time for April. Many worked through the weekend to get as much done as possible before the rain forecasted for mid-week. Sprayers continue to roll as they strive to keep up with planters to ensure that all planted crop is covered. Soybean burndown and pre-emergence chemistries are on track to be done with in a day or two if not done already after soils dry up from the rain that we received Wednesday- Friday. The rain we received was enough to activate all of the residual herbicides being applied.

Most of our field tiles have zero discharge. Beautiful conditions, chasing moisture deeper in furrow every day.

Last week of April was a busy planting week in Northern Illinois. I would say locally we’re 70% planted on beans and 60% planted on corn. 20% of the crop planted in the area went in the week leading into Easter, mainly beans but the crops planted before Easter are starting to emerge now.