cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

Wet weather delayed planting of some of the 2024 Illinois corn crop, but stands (except in drowned-out low spots) are generally good. Warm, dry weather in June caused some water stress in places, but kept development moving and helped roots to establish. July-August rainfall totals have been above normal for almost the entire state, while temperatures have been normal to a little below normal.
Reflecting the favorable weather this growing season, the August 1 estimate of yields,…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Dry (soil is dry, plants may be browning or stressed, water bodies are low)
Rain is in the forecast which would greatly benefit the soy crop in drier areas of Northeast Illinois, that crop is still at R5 or beginning seed. As we reach mid R5 we can expect the remobilization of nutrients from leaves and stems to start. While few reports of soy disease have been noted to date,…

Stalk rot in corn primarily leads to stalk breakage and lodging, and consequently yield loss. Stalk rot is caused by pathogens (fungi or bacteria). While abiotic stress like flooding, droughts, or insect infestations can cause similar damage, the symptoms in the stalk can vary depending on the cause.
Stalk rot pathogens attack the pith, degrading it and destroying the vascular tissue within the stalk. This disruption affects water and nutrient movement within the plant, resulting in premature plant collapse.…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
This week precipitation has been mixed in northeast Illinois, areas north of the Rte. 80 corridor have received multiple rainfall events while areas south have received limited to no precipitation. Soy continues to progress, reaching R5, beginning seed stage. Depending upon variety maturity and planting date, most corn fields visited were R3-R4 to R4-R5.…

Emily Hansen – Commercial Agriculture Educator
LaSalle County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Wet (soil is wetter than normal, local vegetation is healthy)
We have gotten quite a bit of rain in the last week in LaSalle County, with most areas seeing between 2-3 inches.  Some areas in Bureau County received up to 4 inches of precipitation in the past week. With this, many fields have fairly saturated soils, but I have not noticed any ponding. …

Kathryn Seebruck – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Stephenson County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Wet (soil is damp, standing water may be present in low areas, water bodies are full)
After last week’s storms, the corn that was most heavily impacted (which was minimal) has mostly come back up. Everything still looks very healthy as we continue to receive rainfall. Corn is silking and soybeans are anywhere between R3 and R5. I have seen some rootworm beetles and subsequent silk clipping but not in high amounts.…

Emily Hansen – Commercial Agriculture Educator
LaSalle County
Soil Conditions: Near Normal
LaSalle County experienced a good amount of precipitation this week from the several large storm systems that moved through the area. Luckily, we have not seen any severe damage from these storms.  I also have not noticed much standing water in fields.  Corn at the IVCC + Extension plots is tasseling or getting close to it.  Soybeans are flowering.  The IVCC + Extension plots are a little behind in development compared to fields in a lot of LaSalle County. …

Kathryn Seebruck – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Stephenson County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Wet (soil is damp, standing water may be present in low areas, water bodies are full)
Some side-dressing is still occurring on later planted corn, and beans are currently being sprayed. Some are struggling to finish wheat harvest due to the wet weather we keep getting. Not all areas have been affected similarly with rain, but the range is between just enough and too much to the point of creating drowned out low areas;…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Near Normal
This past week I had the opportunity to travel a larger area of northern Illinois. Generally, both corn and soybean crops appear to be in good shape. This comes as somewhat of a surprise when considering what the crop has endured to this point (near midway) in the growing season. Earliest planted crops include R1 corn and R2 soy. In recent trips across the countryside,…