cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending October 2, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
Agricultural commodity markets throughout the week were dominated by the fallout from the USDA Grain Stocks report, ongoing trade friction with China, and the logistical challenges of fall harvest.…

Steve Brand – Commercial Agronomy Specialist
DeKalb County
Soil Conditions: Moderately Wet (soil is damp, standing water may be present in low areas, water bodies are full)
After a wet finish to last week and more systems moving through over the weekend, we have some very wet and saturated soils across northern Illinois. Corn and Soybeans continue to dry down, but that has slowed with the rain and cooler weather moving in.…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Mildly Dry (soil is drier than normal, plant growth may have slowed)
Rain is expected for Northeast Illinois this week, if it materializes it will provide needed moisture. Its benefit to most crops at this stage is uncertain, but we will decrease the fire risk associated with starting harvest when crops are tinder dry. It’s becoming a challenge to share information on the 2026 crop;…

Steve Brand – Commercial Ag Specialist
DeKalb County
Soil Conditions: Near Normal
Cooler and wet conditions have moved in across northern Illinois. Light rain and heavy morning dews have propagated some late season disease in both corn and soybeans as we start to enter wide-scale senescence and harvest.
Soybeans in McHenry and DeKalb counties are producing large amounts of pods, as well as filling those pods very well. I expect many soybean fields to have high yields.…

Russ Higgins – Commercial Agriculture Educator
Grundy County
Soil Conditions: Near Normal
Entering September an intense shift in weather as a “heat dome” became established in Northeast Illinois. While fields near the Wisconsin state line received precipitation, most areas did not. The ninety degrees plus days provided ample Growing Degree Days (GDDs) for crops finishing grain fill. On lighter soils the temperatures are causing a water deficit reflected by the wilting/yellowing plants.…