Reagen Tibbs– Commercial Agriculture Educator Logan CountySoil Condition: Moderately Dry (soil is dry, plants may be browning or stressed, water bodies are low) Rains over the last week have been welcome but have not provided the much-needed relief from drought conditions. If anything, the rain has slowed the harvest progress for many across Logan County. While on the outside rows, some fields appear ready to harvest, there are still many green plants deep inside the fields.…| farmdoc
Steve Brand– Commercial Agriculture Specialist DeKalb CountySoil Condition: Near Normal We have had a bit of a mini heat wave here in the middle of September as temperatures returned to near normal compared to the previous two weeks of cooler weather. The warmer temperatures are helping the corn and soybeans progress along through maturity as we are a bit behind the rest of the state harvest and maturity-wise. As the rest of the state is entering into some more substantial droughts,…| farmdoc
Steve Brand– Commercial Agriculture Specialist DeKalb CountySoil Condition: Near Normal Cooler temperatures have arrived this fall (late summer really) as we move through the waiting period of the growing season for corn and soybeans. Temperature averages in the 70s and low 80s have brought much relief after a very hot stretch across Northern IL. Nearly every corner of Illinois north of I-80 is at normal rain and water levels as down state begins to enter into a slight drought,…| farmdoc
Steve Brand – Commercial Agriculture Specialist DeKalb County Soil Conditions: Near Normal Conditions over the past 2 weeks have reverted back to being dry with temperatures in the upper 80’s to low 90’s. The corn and soybeans have been progressing very quickly with the increased Growth Degree Units and just enough moisture. As we look at the drought map most of Northern IL remains in the D0 drought with a small area south of Chicago in a D1.…| farmdoc
Emily Hansen – Commercial Agriculture Educator LaSalle County Soil Conditions: Mildly Wet (soil is wetter than normal, local vegetation is healthy) The heat and humidity has finally broken today after what feels like a very miserable few weeks. Over the past week rainfall in LaSalle, Bureau, Marshall, and Putnam counties has been sporadic, with some areas seeing nearly 6 inches and others seeing less than an inch. Crops in areas that received less rainfall are still looking a little heat st...| farmdoc
Southern rust of corn, caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora, has recently been confirmed in counties of Indiana and Kentucky bordering southern Illinois. While not yet confirmed in Illinois this season, its proximity makes it important to stay alert, scout actively, and be prepared to manage the disease if it arrives. Recognizing Southern Rust Southern rust produces small, orange to light-brown pustules typically found on the upper surface of corn leaves, often concentrated in the upper can...| farmdoc
In writing for the past several years for Grainews it was nice trying to create articles that had application to the cattle, grain and mixed farmers out| Grainews
