Illinois Crop Update | May 15, 2026

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator

Grundy County

Soil Conditions: Near Normal

A favorable week for field work in the region. Many corn and soy fields were planted, and operations continue in the area. Earlier planted corn appears to be emerging with a slight advantage to soy. This week we will be starting the aphid suction collection trap in Morris, part of the Suction Trap Network that will be monitored through October. This trapping program is led by Dr Doris Lagos-Kutz, Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, generates data on aphids and other beneficial and pest insects across multiple states. (https://suctiontrapnetwork.org/ )

While corn and soy crops are waiting for consistently warm weather to expedite growth, several weed species that have flowered or grown rapidly are found in untreated or unworked fields. They include the yellow flowered winter annual Butterweed, and the early emerging summer annual giant ragweed.

Reagan Tibbs  – Commercial Agriculture Educator

Logan County 

Soil Conditions: Near Normal

Conditions have been mixed for fieldwork in Logan County over the last week. Sporadic rain showers have limited some field operations, but there are no signs of delay for most producers. There are still a good number of fields that need to be planted, with warmer temperatures over the coming days surely to provide the right conditions to get seeds in the ground. Corn and soybeans that have emerged appear healthy, with no obvious signs of frost or heavy rainfall damage.

Talon Becker – Commercial Agriculture Specialist

Vermillion County

Soil Conditions: Near Normal

Cooler than average temperatures have remained in the east central Illinois region. That, combined with the 4-6″ of rain much of the region has received over the past 30 days, continues to slow planting progress and early crop growth. In southern Vermilion County this week, soils were just drying up enough for field work and planting to resume. I saw a number of fields that had been tilled and/or planted in the past couple days, as well as several planters rolling down the roads and in fields during my Wednesday morning survey. About 10% of fields had emerged crop, with the most advanced fields of corn at V3-V4 and soybeans at VC-V1. In those fields, damage from the recent storms was visible on early-emerged leaves, but new growth is intact and looking healthy.