cropCENTRAL | Field Crop Production Resources

 
 
 
 
Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board
Speakers:
Dr. Connor Sible – Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ava Isaacs – Master’s Student in the Crop Physiology Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Whether you no-till, cover crop, double crop, or simply have higher yields today than a decade ago, you’ve got residue in your field.…

This week marked a quick transition to spring weather, just as the calendar turned over to March. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 30s in northern Illinois to the high 40s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 6 degrees above average. Many places saw high temperatures reach into the 70s, including highs of 77 in Cahokia Heights and 74 in Springfield. This follows the month of February that was right around 1 degree warmer than normal statewide,…

Temperatures were all over the place this week, as is common for late February. Overall, average temperatures were 1 to 3 degrees warmer than average in northeast Illinois, and within 1 degree of average everywhere else. Some of the more impressive daytime high temperatures this week included 74 in Flora and 72 in Carbondale, while nighttime low temperatures dipped as far as 10 degrees in Galesburg and Quincy. February will likely end 2 to 3 degrees warmer than normal statewide in Illinois,…

The 2025 growing season in Illinois delivered another storyline characterized by sharp weather contrasts, average crop condition ratings, some disease pressure in places, and very good — if not record-setting — yields in many, but not all, areas. As we have seen before, crops showed their ability to translate good mid-season conditions to good yields even with very dry late-season conditions.
A tale of two springs
March was 4-5 degrees warmer and 2-3 inches drier than normal statewide,…