IP Crop Network, August 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 contributed this month. If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with David Kee or Shane Frederick. You should also follow David Kee on Twitter for some of the latest, most-interesting information on agronomy and research that affect IP and other farmers.

Illinois

Illinois’ crop condition continues to slowly improve as we head into August, a very critical month for determining soybean yield. The “old timers” always say: “Rain in August is what makes a bean crop.” As we head into the second week, most of the state has had adequate rainfall over the past 30 days, with this week calling for three strong chances of rain and lower than average temps. By the time this moisture dries up we will be halfway through August with a crop that continues to improve.

The double-crop beans planted after wheat have already closed the stubble and are growing exceptionally well. With continued rains, I could foresee 50-60bu double-crop beans. Having cut 100bu wheat across many acres, that makes for a pretty profitable acre.

The story is: We could be sitting on a very good soybean crop in Illinois. In my 30 years working in agriculture, I have seen farmers to be pretty pessimistic as a whole … so when they are saying this could be a good crop, hang on!

– Scott A. Eversgerd, Field Agronomist – Southern Illinois, Pioneer Hi-Bred Int’l

Michigan

The condition of most Michigan crops has improved over the past month. Rainfall and warm temperatures have allowed significant plant growth and growth stage advancement. The most recent USDA Crop Weather Report shows topsoil moisture to be in surplus on 28% and adequate on 59% of fields. Crop condition ratings continue to show some residual effect from early season stress where 42% are rated good to excellent, 46% fair and 12% poor to very poor. These ratings are consistently improving each month as rainfall has alleviated early season emergence and growth issues.

Much of Michigan has received some rainfall in early August, and that is providing optimism to growers as they consider the yield potential of this crop. Weed escapes are showing in some fields with weeds poking through the crop canopy. Pre-emerge herbicides provided variable control due to dry soil conditions, while post-emerge herbicides also experienced challenges with control of drought-stressed weeds, then more weeds emerged with rainfall after post-herbicide applications.

Foliar disease and white mold symptoms on soybeans are minimal at this point. Concern remains for both as conditions are favorable in some fields.

Growers keep a watchful eye on crop pests but hold hope for beneficial August weather to pull this crop through an interesting year.

– Mark Seamon, Research Director, Michigan Soybean Committee

Minnesota

Minnesota is dry. According to the drought monitor, 100% of the state is rated abnormally dry to severe drought stage. However, farmers are still cautiously optimistic as the state’s soils, as a group, have decent water-holding capacity. USDA-NASS crop progress reports topsoil moisture supplies were rated 68% very short-percent short and 32% percent adequate to surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated 66% very short to short and 34% adequate to surplus. There was widespread rain this weekend, but it will be too late for some crops.

Crop growth is progressing, but slightly ahead of average. Soybeans blooming or beyond reached 93%, setting pods reached 71%. Corn silk was at 96% and dough stage reached 56%. Spring wheat harvest has started and reached 91% coloring. It appears, due to the delayed planting date, the harvest window will be very compacted.

Reports from several wind shield surveys indicate weed control programs were largely successful. However, canopy closure is delayed, and most farmers have used a second pass program to insure weed damage was limited, especially for waterhemp. Due to the dry and hot June through July, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) flared up in many western Minnesota soybean fields. Other diseases/syndromes were evident but not widespread.

Actual corn and soybean yield in 2023 will be greatly dependent on rainfall and soil moisture loss as seed/kernels fill over the next six weeks. Rain from the weekend storms was very helpful, but more will be needed before the crop is in. Due to the late planting and variable soil moisture status, yield estimates will be highly variable. We will know more about 2023 yield when the combines roll.

– David Kee, Director of Research, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council

Missouri

Rain finally has picked back up over the past couple weeks across much of Missouri. Unfortunately for our most impacted areas, this came too little too late. Driving across the northwestern to north-central region last week, many soybeans were shorter than knee-high and corn was being chopped for livestock feed. There are many other pockets throughout the state in a similar situation. In other areas these rains will push the crop through the finish line, especially for soybean.

The rains have flared up a complex of diseases in both corn and soybeans. A talk at a University of Missouri field day last week was focused on why there are so many yellow soybean fields throughout the state. Phytophthora was the main suspect with a complex of other diseases contributing. A local veterinarian indicated that dry years like this followed by rain often flare up many soil-borne diseases in cattle as well, an interesting parallel. Tar spot is always top of mind these days, and while we did see it earlier in Missouri than ever before, it still seems to be sequestered to the northwest part of the state, although, we suspect more is out there undetected.

The combines will answer the question in about a month on what is out there for a crop. Regardless of what the monitor says, many farmers will be glad to move past the 2023 growing season. It was a tough one in Missouri.

Based upon USDA data, the Missouri corn crop is 97% silking with 70% of the crop at dough. About 5% of the corn crop is at dent with 27% of the overall state crop being rated as “good.” The soybean crop is progressing with 86% of the crop at bloom and 61% of the crop setting pods. Only 27% of the state’s soybean crop is rated in “good” condition. One crop that has thrived during these dry conditions across the state has been cotton, which almost has completed squaring (98%) with 78% of the crop setting bolls. With no open bolls seen across the state, we find the crop from Southeast Missouri representing as 66% “good” and 27% as “fair.” The Missouri rice crop is progressing with 70% of the crop headed. Overall, the rice crop is rated as 65% “good.”

– Eric Oseland, Director of Agronomy and Research, Missouri Soybeans; and Bryan Stobaugh, Director of Licensing & Commercialization, Missouri Soybeans

Wisconsin

For the week ending on August 6, Wisconsin farmers had approximately six suitable days for fieldwork, as reported by the USDA-NASS Report. Most of the state experienced a dry week, which accelerated the harvesting of hay and small grain crops. Parts of the northeast and east-central regions received some rain, partially alleviating the drought impacts.

Corn silking had progressed to 83% completion, which is 9% ahead of the average for the previous year and only 3% ahead of the averages for 2018 and 2022. About 20% of the corn had entered the dough stage. The corn’s condition received a rating of 53% in the good to excellent range, marking a 2% decrease from the prior week and a 5% decrease from the previous year.”

Soybean blooming has reached 86%, equal to the progress of the previous year and 1% ahead of the five-year average. Forty-two percent of the soybeans were putting on pods. The condition of the soybeans was rated at 52% good to excellent, the same as the previous week and a decrease of 7% from the previous year.

In Wisconsin, most of the corn and soybean crops maintain a favorable condition. However, moving forward, adequate rainfall is necessary to facilitate their maturation and achieve satisfactory yields.

— Shawn Conley, State Extension Soybean and Small Grain Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Note: To see state Crop Progress reports from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS): click here.