cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

An article in the online Prairie Farmer on October 11, 2023 titled “How much nitrogen does corn get from fertilizer?” followed by the subheading …”80% of a corn crop’s N comes from the soil…” This has caused a great deal of discussion and consternation among those who sell and use nitrogen fertilizer on corn.
The basis for the article was a May 2023 news release from the University of Illinois College of ACES, which summarized findings from several studies conducted in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences by Dr.…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Dry (soil is dry, plants may be browning or stressed, water bodies are low)
Corn is at R5 (dent), and most soy is at R6 (full seed). Fields that still have green tissue are benefitting from recent rainfall. Areas that experienced drought conditions after pollination and during grain fill can expect corn kernel abortion near the ear tip and smaller and lighter kernels.…

Rainfall in the first two weeks of August recharged soil moisture across much of Illinois, but since then, the combination of low rain amounts and very high temperatures (4.7 to 8.9 degrees above average) brought on some stress during the last week of August. The August 29 U.S. drought monitor map from last week showed about 43% of the state with no stress, 42% abnormally dry, and 15% with moderate drought. Parts of central and southern Illinois received between 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain this week,…

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),…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Recent high day and nighttime temperatures have local farmers and crops stressed. In my immediate area in northeast Illinois, the opportunity for “bonus fill” of kernels experienced last year appears very unlikely as the R6 (dent) corn hastens to maturity. Fields with greater water holding capacity are faring much better than lighter soils,…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Again, sounding like a broken record, hit or miss on rainfall for areas in NE Illinois. This past week some fields received inches while others received tenths. While management decisions are dwindling this late in the growing season, we can still learn from field visits. An area in a soybean field that from the road I predicted to be SDS or BSR turned out to be White Mold. …

Rainfall in late June and early July brought relief from very dry conditions, but soils dried out again before August 5-9 rains over most of Illinois recharged soil moisture enough to restore crop prospects for the 2023 season. The August 15 U.S. drought monitor map showed 28% of Illinois to have no drought, 57% to be abnormally dry, and 14% to be in moderate drought. At this point in the season, there’s little concern about abnormal dryness,…

Kathryn Seebruck – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Winnebago County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Wet (soil is wetter than normal, local vegetation is healthy)
In soybeans, some feeding by Japanese beetles was found closer to field edges, in addition to both minor and advanced spider mite damage (each in different fields). With the recent rainfall and more moderate temperatures, continued damage isn’t expected but will be monitored. In corn, some western corn rootworm beetles were found but in low numbers and with minimal damage.…

Russ Higgins – Extension Commercial Ag Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Scouting corn this week, I’m starting to find some leaf disease, mostly lower in the canopy. To date, I have yet to find tar spot in fields I have visited but am aware it has been confirmed in Indiana counties east of NE Illinois. Predicting what if any yield drag may arise from our dry June should be easier to determine as we progress through the reproductive stages.…