IP Crop Network, June report

This monthly feature from SSGA’s Agronomy Action team highlights growing conditions for Identity Preserved crops from different regions around the country. Thanks to the states/regions that have contributed so far. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with us by emailing David Kee or Shane Frederick. 

Illinois 

The June 7 Crop Progress & Condition Report from USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service has corn at 74% good-excellent (4% over the 5-year average) and 93% emerged (11% over). Soybeans are at 73% good-excellent (flat to the 5-year average), 93% planted (16% over) and 84% emerged (23% over). It’s pretty clear that the corn and soybean crop in Illinois are both off to a very good start. 

Extreme colds temperatures did get into the far reaches of northern Illinois last weekend, but extremely minimal damage was reported. Just to show the craziness of what a difference a week can make, a friend in South Dakota walked frost-damaged crops in 100o F heat! 

Much of the corn acres in Illinois are entering the “grand growth stage,” the stage in which plants have completely switched over to the permanent root system and have found the applied nitrogen with the days are getting warmer. At this stage, the plants can add a new leaf every 2 ½-3 days in the best conditions. The later-planted acres (late April–mid-May) are also growing fast and look really good. Overall stands across most of the planting dates are very good, with a few isolated pockets needing to be replanted. A lot of last-minute herbicide applications are being made before the crop height exceeds the labels. With the current pace of growth, good soil moisture and temps in the 80s, the first half of July will be very important, with many acres heading into pollination. 

For the soybean crop, things had unrolled a little differently. In recent years there has been a push to plant soybeans earlier, and this spring’s weather allowed many growers to do just that. Many of those fields already have been post-sprayed for weeds and are really taking off. The idea is to get the beans to reproductive stages by June 21, the longest day of the year. Based on current conditions and forecasts, that should be achieved on a lot of those early planted acres. As we came through May, the rest of the bean crop got planted into good conditions as well. We have seen a few more replanted acres due to some localized heavy rainfall events, but overall, the crop is in really good shape. Many acres are beginning to nodulate very well, and root growth is expanding rapidly. This is that stage in which beans go from yellow-green in color to a nice dark green in about 7-10 days. 

The wheat crop in southern Illinois is advancing along quite nicely as well. A few days of sunshine this week along with the expected temperatures should have wheat harvest starting in the southern tip of the state around June 20. That maturity line will progress north at the pace of 75-100 miles per week. Spring weather conditions for the wheat crop have been very favorable. It appears that Fusarium Head Scab infections are fairly low, and the last few weeks of cooler temps will allow for a very positive grain-fill period and finish the crop off very nicely. The only real danger for the crop now is a prolonged wet period during harvest. If we get through that OK, expect an above-average wheat crop for Illinois.  

Michigan 

Soybean planting in Michigan is nearly complete. Both the planted area and emergence have been about 30% ahead of our 5-year average throughout the planting season. According to USDA-NASS’s June 7 crop conditions report, 97% of the soybeans are planted and 87% are emerged. Emergence in most cases has been good to excellent. While limited, some stand establishment challenges have included seed corn maggot infestations and dry soil conditions at seed depth. Weed control from pre-emerge herbicides has been variable, mostly affected by rainfall after application.   

Most of the soybean-growing area of Michigan is included in the moderate drought category of USDA. Intermittent rainfall in small amounts has kept annual crops looking pretty good in most cases, but concerns about the growing moisture deficit are growing. NASS has rated the Michigan crop as 57% good to excellent with 4% in the poor to very poor categories. Optimism about the potential of the 2021 crop remains, but it is being challenged by high temperatures and lack of rainfall.      

Minnesota 

Planting is largely completed in Minnesota, with more than 90% of the corn, small grains and soybean crop emerged according to the June 7 USDA-NASS crop report. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 51% very short to short, while subsoil moisture supplies were rated 42% short to very short. Drought impacted acreage (D0-D2) have increased from 37% in mid-May to 72% on June 1. 

Soil temperature, at 4 inches, has been greater than 50o F since May 13 at Lamberton and Waseca in southern Minnesota and May 16 at Crookston. Frost damage occurred in late May but, due to variable crop emergence and growth stage, was quite scattered. Replanting is occurring on some acreage, largely due to frost damage and/or drought. Widespread rainfall occurred in the last week of May with some locations receiving more than 3 cumulative inches and others receiving trace amounts. The recent heat wave has caused some concern, especially with small grains. 

Some reports of pesticide shortages are occurring, mainly from growers who have not prepaid for inputs last winter (Science for Success, June 2021 episode). Pre-emerge herbicide efficacy is still a concern but appears to be spotty. Over the top herbicide applications are in full swing. Excessive wind speeds have limited some application efforts. Disease reports are limited. 

Overall, planting has gone well, crops appear to be in decent shape overall, and growers are still cautiously optimistic. Timely rainfall will be critical to crop success. 

Missouri 

Missouri saw another cool May with daily highs being below average (average was 62° F, 2.2°F below the long-term average). It did align, temperature-wise, with May 2020 and proved to be our second-consecutive cool month, which was our third month below average for the year. Precipitation across the state varied but averaged above normal for the state. The average monthly total for precipitation was 5.30 inches (0.64 inches above the long-term average), and this followed the trends seen over the past 32 years. Six out of the eight prior months have been wetter than average, so we are seeing a significant trend to wet here. Some places in the state (east central counties) saw as much as 10 inches.  

According to the June 7 USDA-NASS crop update, 100% of the state’s corn and 65% of the soybean crop are planted. To compare the 5-year average for planted soybeans, 64% of the soybean crop is usually planted by now. As for emergence of the two crops during this wet and cool conditions, Missouri sees corn at 91% and soybeans at 49%.  

Cotton planting in Missouri is down (98% planted) over the 5-year average (88%). Our rice crop is 100% planted with 58% of the crop planted looking “good” and a total emerged at 96%. The winter wheat in Missouri is 96% headed, which is 2% behind the 5-year average with 30% of the crop looking “fair” and another 58% looking “good,” and no acres of winter wheat have been harvested.  

Note: Missouri’s Climate Report from the University of Missouri will be live later this week. Details in this update were from the authors of the report prior to upload to the website. 

North Dakota 

Most of North Dakota is experiencing drought conditions. The southeast has good growing conditions and parts of the southwest did receive some good rains, but even with the rains the recent hot temperatures will deplete the moisture quickly. Click here to see the drought map. 

Crop emergence was uneven in many areas of North Dakota due to dry conditions and highly variable temperatures.  

One week ago, many areas of the state had frost, and thousands of acres of soybeans were damaged. Many farmers had to replant. A few patient farmers are seeing some fields with frost damage starting to recover as the growing point survived. Some other soybean fields had to be replanted to very high winds blowing dirt and sandblasting the plants, cutting them off below the growing point. 

Going from frost one week ago to 100° F temperatures this week is very concerning, and the crops are showing moisture stress. Yields probably are already impacted, but there is still time if the state can catch some good rains within the next couple of weeks. 

According to the June 7 USDA-NASS crop report, 23% of soybean conditions were rated good and 43% were rated fair. Other conditions were rated: excellent (2%), poor (23%) and very poor (9%). Soybean planting was at 95%, well ahead of 71% last year and ahead of 87% for the 5-year average. Emergence was at 65%, well ahead of last year (29%) and ahead of the 5-year average (52%).