Illinois Crop Update – September 1, 2023

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), and soybeans are at R6. Many corn ears exhibit tip back, likely due to dry conditions around pollination. Driving around, I have observed many fields with significant weed pressure, which hopefully serve as a reminder for increased diligence on weed control next season.

Figure 1: Corn tip back. Winnebago County, August 30, 2023.

Talon Becker – Extension Commercial Agriculture Educator

Champaign County

Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)

Both corn and soy crops in western Champaign County are getting closer to maturity, as leaf senescence has started in several fields in that area.  Corn fields I surveyed were all at mid to late R5 (dent) stages.  Yields look to be somewhat variable, with a few fields having some consistently large ears and minimal tipback, while others were more affected by the droughty conditions of the season and/or weed pressure issues and will probably result in yields slightly below an expected trendline average for the county.  Several soybean fields are also starting to show leaf senescence, with most at R6 (full seed) and some fields with a few plants edging into R7 (beginning maturity).

Figure 2: Soybeans at R6 (full seed) with some leaves starting to senesce. Champaign County, September 1, 2023

Figure 3: Corn at R5 (dent) with milk lines at the halfway point or further. Champaign County, September 1, 2023