debugging field crop production

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending July 31, 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 Agricultural commodity markets experienced high volatility and a sharp downward move during the week, driven by shifting weather models, geopolitical headlines, and macroeconomic pressures.…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator Grundy County Soil Conditions: Near Normal This past week saw hail, substantial rain, and missed opportunities for needed precipitation in varying fields across the northeast region of Illinois. Corn has reached R3 or the milk stage in the field I have been scouting this summer. At this stage the kernel no longer adds new cells to the kernel endosperm but fills the existing cells with liquid starch.…

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending July 24, 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 commodity markets experienced strong upward momentum and heightened volatility throughout the week, with November soybean futures making new contract highs above $12.50 and December corn approaching the $4.90 to $5.00 resistance levels.…

Southern rust of corn, caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora, has now been confirmed in Illinois for the 2026 growing season. The first report was received on July 23 from Williamson County in southern Illinois. This confirmation indicates that southern rust spores have reached the state and that corn growers and agronomists should begin scouting, particularly in fields with susceptible hybrids that have not yet reached the later reproductive stages. The disease can develop rapidly under warm,…