debugging field crop production

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending July 3, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather. Agricultural Markets Synthesis The agricultural markets during this period were characterized by a transition from technical liquidation to a highly sensitive weather- and policy-driven environment. Prior to the release of the June 30 USDA reports,…

by Trent Ford, State Climatologist ISWS PRI University of Illinois Temperatures this week packed a punch, ranging from the high 70s in northern Illinois to the low 80s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 4 degrees above average. This week featured our first real summer heat wave across the state, as high temperatures reached into the mid 90s, with very high humidity pushing peak heat index values well over 100. However, that persistent humidity and very warm nights were the truly remarkable feature of this heat wave.…

Steve Brand – Commercial Agriculture Specialist Dekalb County Soil Conditions: Mildly Wet (soil is wetter than normal, local vegetation is healthy) The heat wave is upon us this week bringing 90+ degree temperatures with very high humidity. After a few weeks of cooler weather and lots of precipitation, the corn and soybeans that were not waterlogged are thriving, and have jumped multiple growth stages since last week. I scouted corn fields anywhere between V5/V6 up to V10 with rapid growth from all the heat units being added into the environment.…

As our earlier planted corn begins to tassel, folks who have experienced corn leaf aphid outbreaks the last couple of years should begin scouting. This insect remains an uncommon pest; however, several hybrids were affected both during the rather large outbreak we experienced in 2024 in central Illinois and in 2025, when overall corn leaf aphid numbers were much closer to what we see in a typical year. Most pest aphids are sensitive to differences in cultivar,…