Plants are reaching R1 stage this week and beginning to display drought stress symptoms. Some farmers are already running irrigation systems in the region. High temperatures, elevated sand content, and lack of precipitation may limit plant growth in the following weeks in fields without access to irrigation

Crops are starting to suffer from lack of rainfall in many of the surrounding counties. With the exception of no precipitation, most all fields have great emergence and are off to a good start. Wheat is 10-20 days from harvest.

We should be in the middle of corn rootworm egg hatch in much of the state by the time this report is published. Continue to look out for armyworm injury in & near wheat and other dense grasses (cover crops, weeds, waterways, etc). Black cutworm larvae should be at cutting size throughout the state now, so include them in your scouting efforts, particularly in fields that had sub-optimal winter annual weed control. I have received relatively few reports of early season injury so far.

The cool, low humidity nights of late May have caused “silver leaf” to show in local corn fields. According to Purdue University, yield effects are negligible. Corn is mostly in the V5-V7 stage and soybean plants at about the same stage, V6-V7. Topsoil is dry down to 4+ inches fields in fields at the V6-V7 growth stages. Noticing along field edges increasing numbers of amaranth species becoming evident and this family of weeds tolerates hot, dry weather well.

This past week went by without any rain events in the area. With only one minor rain event having occurred the previous week, coupled with higher temperatures throughout this past week, soils are drying quickly. Some fields planted since the last rain event are experiencing uneven emergence due to the lack of moisture. Some pop up storms in the area today may offer some, but not significant, relief.

Unfortunately, like most we have not gotten any measurable rainfall over the past week, and with the temperatures starting to get into the 90s, it is really putting some stress on our crops. The latest planted crops are the most severely hit but all are showing some signs of stress. Locally, the central part of Monroe County has been hit the hardest, missing rainfall that has gone to the north and to the south. Hillsides of some corn fields are stressed and rolled up or bare with little emergence or stand. Many fields under normal conditions would be candidates to replant or at least patch in bare areas, however, with no soil moisture and no promising chances in the forecast there really isn’t any point to put more seeds out right now. From the Illinois Wheat Association field tour, the general consensus was that overall the wheat crop and yield estimates favored a very good crop in 2023. The wheat crop is turning very quickly which is being accelerated by the dry conditions.