cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

Will the August 1 crop yield predictions hold up?

  • September 4, 2018

  • Emerson Nafziger

Illinois corn and soybean yields in 2018 were predicted in the August 1 NASS report (released on August 10) to be 205 and 65 bushels per acre, respectively, both an all-time record for this great state. Corn yields in the U.S. were predicted at 178.4 bushels per acre, a new all-time high, and for U.S. soybean the August 1 prediction was 51.6 bushels, which is very slightly below the 2016 U.S. yield.
Trying to guess which way and how far the yield numbers will move from predicted levels is a popular pastime,…

Read This Article

Soybean Gall Midge: New Pest of Soybean in Nearby States

  • September 4, 2018

  • Nick Seiter

Producers in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota have been dealing with gall midges in soybean. This is a fly in the family Cecidomyiidae, which is the same family as the Hessian fly, sorghum midge, and several other agricultural pests. We have not confirmed any infestations of this insect in Illinois at this time; the closest confirmed, damaging infestations that I know of are in western Iowa. However, because so little is known about the biology of this insect,…

Read This Article

Tar Spot Updates in Illinois

  • August 31, 2018

  • Chelsea Harbach

The following is posted on behalf of Dr. Nathan Kleczewski, Field Crops Pathologist for Growmark. This content is from the Field Crop Disease Hub webpage Dr. Kleczewski curated. 
If you do not think tar spot is an issue for corn production in Illinois and the region, please view this video from our colleague in Northern Illinois.   This is why I have been receiving several calls and emails daily on this disease, and many people are wondering what we know and what they can do to manage it. …

Read This Article

Looking for Palmer amaranth Populations

  • August 27, 2018

  • Aaron Hager

The weed science programs at Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois are participating in a research project sponsored by the United Soybean Board to survey and monitor the potential for the evolution of weeds with resistance to glufosinate and dicamba.  Early detection of evolved resistance to these herbicides could alert soybean farmers of the imposing threat in time for changes in management strategies that avoid herbicide failures.  Researchers in Illinois will collect seed from at least two of our most challenging weed species,…

Read This Article

Tar Spot in corn- requesting your help

  • August 24, 2018

  • Nathan Kleczewski

Tar spot is a relatively new disease in corn.  It was first described in Illinois and Indiana in 2015, and was first located near DeKalb.  Tar spot has been detected to some degree in Northern Illinois each year since.  However, typically infections are sparse and the disease does not come in until later in the season.  Consequently, yield loss due to this disease has been minimal, and the disease mostly considered an oddity.
However, in parts of Latin America,…

Read This Article

Physoderma Brown Spot and Node Rot in Corn

  • August 10, 2018

  • Chelsea Harbach

The following is posted on behalf of Dr. Nathan Kleczewski, Field Crops Pathologist for Growmark. This content is from the Field Crop Disease Hub webpage Dr. Kleczewski curated. 
Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@ILplantdoc) likely noticed numerous photos that I posted earlier in the season of Physoderma brown spot and node rot (PBS) on corn.  Over the last week, I have had several calls about this disease, and reports indicate it was more prevalent than usual,…

Read This Article

Physoderma reports on the increase in the region

  • August 10, 2018

  • Nathan Kleczewski

Physoderma brown spot and node rot is a disease that has been increasing in incidence in the Midwest over the past 5-10 years.  We observed this disease frequently during scouting trips throughout the state conducted in late July.  Recently, we have been receiving more reports of this disease and questions pertaining to it’s impact on the crop and management.  I recently wrote an article on this disease and management recommendations on the Illinois Field Crop Disease Blog. …

Read This Article

Spray Decisions for Frogeye Leaf Spot in Soybeans

  • July 27, 2018

  • Chelsea Harbach

The following is posted on behalf of Dr. Nathan Kleczewski, Field Crops Pathologist for Growmark. This content is from the Field Crop Disease Hub webpage Dr. Kleczewski curated. 
Soybeans throughout the state are maturing and consequently, many people have been asking questions about the need to make a fungicide application for suppressing frogeye leaf spot (FLS) in soybeans.
Frogeye leaf spot is caused by the fungal pathogen Cercospora sojina.  The pathogen can survive and overwinter in infested soybean residue for 2+ years,…

Read This Article

Spray Decisions for Frogeye Leaf Spot on Soybeans

  • July 27, 2018

  • Nathan Kleczewski

Many people have asked about the need to make a fungicide application for frogeye leaf spot on soybeans this season.  I have posted a new article on the Illinois Field Crop Disease Blog which reviews this pathogen, how it works, and some new tools that may help you with these important decisions.  Find the article by clicking here.…

Read This Article

Is the 2018 soybean crop as good as it looks?

  • July 24, 2018

  • Emerson Nafziger

If the appearance of the soybean crop going into late July predicts how it will yield, the 2018 crop in Illinois is going to be a high-yielding one. The crop in Illinois was rated at 78% good + excellent (G+E) as of July 22. Conditions across the US soybean growing regions are somewhat variable, but the 2018 crop is in good condition overall.
As I did with corn in the Bulletin on July 6,…

Read This Article
Back To Top