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Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Dry (soil is dry, plants may be browning or stressed, water bodies are low)
Corn is at R5 (dent), and most soy is at R6 (full seed). Fields that still have green tissue are benefitting from recent rainfall. Areas that experienced drought conditions after pollination and during grain fill can expect corn kernel abortion near the ear tip and smaller and lighter kernels.…

Kathryn Seebruck – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Winnebago County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
This area has not seen rain in over two weeks and is not forecasted again until 9/6. Disease presence is still low as a result. The dry conditions were exacerbated by high temperatures (upwards of 97 degrees F) last week, which we will see again this weekend. Corn is dented (R5),…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Recent high day and nighttime temperatures have local farmers and crops stressed. In my immediate area in northeast Illinois, the opportunity for “bonus fill” of kernels experienced last year appears very unlikely as the R6 (dent) corn hastens to maturity. Fields with greater water holding capacity are faring much better than lighter soils,…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
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. …

Kathryn Seebruck – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Winnebago County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Wet (soil is wetter than normal, local vegetation is healthy)
In soybeans, some feeding by Japanese beetles was found closer to field edges, in addition to both minor and advanced spider mite damage (each in different fields). With the recent rainfall and more moderate temperatures, continued damage isn’t expected but will be monitored. In corn, some western corn rootworm beetles were found but in low numbers and with minimal damage.…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Scouting corn this week, I’m starting to find some leaf disease, mostly lower in the canopy. To date, I have yet to find tar spot in fields I have visited but am aware it has been confirmed in Indiana counties east of NE Illinois. Predicting what if any yield drag may arise from our dry June should be easier to determine as we progress through the reproductive stages.…

Soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) cause more losses in Illinois soybeans than any other pathogen. For example, in 2021 alone, losses attributed to SCN were estimated at over 14 million bushels, valued at over $185 million. Frequently the effects of SCN go unnoticed, as many of our modern cultivars do not express noticeable aboveground symptoms of infection except under special circumstances. Even when aboveground symptoms are absent, SCN infections can result in losses of approximately 10% if the nematodes are present at sufficient densities.…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Northeastern Illinois is turning dry. Post herbicide applications are taking place in corn fields. Despite dry conditions weed growth and diversity of species has been impressive in some fields, including robust vining weeds including burcucumber and morningglory.  Early planted corn is at V6 and Soy at V2. I received reports of heavy alfalfa weevil feeding and below average tonnage from the first cutting of hay in the region. …

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Much of Northeastern Illinois has had a precipitation-free week. Soils are drying rapidly. Soy planted just before the most recent rainfall event is struggling to emerge in some fields. The soy hypocotyl cannot push through the crusted soil surface. Fields planted in this time period warrant a field scouting trip to evaluate emerged plant population.…