IP Crop Network – June Report

This 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 to this report.

Illinois

Most of Illinois has had a chance to finally get finished with planting. The southern part of the state has seen some significant rainfall events that have led to localized flooding and a considerable amount of replant acres. A comment from a grower summed it up well: “I think we will finish cutting wheat before we are done planting corn. … Never done that before.”

The central and northern parts of Illinois are progressing nicely and have a good crop started. Some of the earliest planted corn in southern Illinois will be tasseling next week, and some of the early planted beans are flowering today. The bean crop is all over the board, with some growers having been done since April and others just finishing this week. As the wheat is being cut the double-crop (DC) bean planters are chasing the combines. Wheat is coming off early this year; some years it is the Fourth of July before all of the DC beans are planted. This year, I expect most of the wheat will be cut by the beginning of next week, and DC beans closely behind – all done in June.

With all the rain in the past month, controlling weeds in soybeans is a real issue. Waterhemp, Palmer amaranth and pigweed are growing at an alarming rate and even the higher rates of post herbicides are struggling to take them down.

The overall bean crop in Illinois is off to a very good start as well. More information from the latest USDA NASS Crop Progress Report.

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

Michigan

Michigan has had challenging field conditions for the past six weeks and counting. Most growers have had to work in short windows of opportunity between rainfall events. Most rainfall amounts have not been excessive in amounts but in frequency. This rain created soil conditions that were less than ideal for tillage and/or planting. As days and weeks passed, many growers made decisions to accept the wet conditions and get planting. Soybean emergence has been better than expected with planting conditions being marginal. Rainfall has helped those fields that were rushed by a couple of days.

The June 10 USDA NASS Crop Progress Report shows soybeans as 87% planted with 68% in good to excellent condition and 28% in fair condition. Our planting progress has been within a few percent of our five-year average for several weeks. But most growers don’t like to see the calendar flip to June with soybeans left to plant.

Soybean crop health is mostly good, and crop pests have not been unusually challenging yet. We will need good growing conditions for a while to get this crop well rooted and established before any hot and dry conditions put stress on these young plants.

– Mark Seamon, Research Director, Michigan Soybean Committee

North Dakota

Planting continues in North Dakota this week. I anticipate the majority of farmers will wrap it up this weekend or early next week. Then shift their focus from planting to in-season crop management, specifically weed control.

Crop conditions were average across the state with few challenges such as emergence, crusting, weeds, IDC (specific to soybeans), soil salinity and wind damage. Some of the most frequent pest issues in the area are weeds and getting them sprayed timely due to wet soil conditions and wind.

While I do not have accurate statistics, there are many prevent plants and re-seeded acres in North Dakota this spring.

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released on June 10, 2024, for the week ending June 9, 2024, there were 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Top moisture supplies rated 1% concise, 9% short, 76% adequate and 14% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 1% very short, 12% short, 74% adequate and 13% surplus.

Planting progress varied among different crops: cereals (planted 94-97%), sugar beets (100%), canola (93%), sunflower (75%), flax (86%) and dry edible beans (80%). Soybeans planted was 81%, behind 90% last year, and near 83% for the five-year average (USDA’s NASS report, June 10, 2024). Emerged was 45%, behind 52% last year, and equal to the average (USDA’s NASS report, June 10, 2024). Soybean conditions rated 0% very poor, 4% poor, 29% fair, 64% good and 3% excellent.

– Miki Miheguli, Research Programs Coordinator, North Dakota Soybean Council

Minnesota

Planting season has been challenging this year, but it is largely on track with the five-year average. Some acres were planted in April, but the late April/early to mid-June rains tightened the planting window. Some farmers have chosen to plant soybeans and other crops due to the extremely limited corn and small grain planting window. Considerable replanting of drown-out spots has occurred, but, at this time, there have been few reports of growers filing prevent plant claims. This may change. Crop emergence has been a bit variable, especially in some crust-prone sites and those seeds near, but not in, saturated soil sites.

According to the latest USDA NASS Crop Progress Report and Drought Monitor report, Minnesota is not dry. Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 2% very short-short, 58% adequate and 40% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 6% very short-short, 64% adequate, and 30% surplus. Drought impacted acreage (D0-D4) has decreased drastically from 99.8% on March 5 to less than 3% on June 8. Abnormally dry soil is not a problem in most of Minnesota.

Pre-emerge herbicide application has been difficult. In some cases, farmers had to choose between planting or applying herbicide. Due to wet conditions, herbicide efficacy is a concern (leaching of some products) but appears to be largely effective. Over the top herbicide applications (like planting) are in full swing. Excessive wind speeds and rain have limited application efforts. Crop scouting has started, and issues are being managed as they reach critical levels.

Overall, crops appear to be in decent shape overall, and growers are still cautiously optimistic of attaining an average to above average yield. Timely summer rainfall will still be critical for crop success.

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

Missouri

With frontal boundaries consistently passing through Missouri, we have had rain off and on every week this spring, and it has accounted for 4.4 working days for the week ending June 9, per USDA reports. These rains have caused some replanting in areas of the state, but the overall planting for our major crops is ahead of the five-year average. The forecast for the next seven days is looking hopeful for drier conditions, but we don’t want things to dry too fast as we have more than 75% of the state with adequate soil moisture.

Missouri’s corn crop is 97% planted with 90% of that emerged. Both numbers are above the state’s five-year average, per USDA data. The state’s corn crop is doing well with more than half the crop rated as “good.” The soybean crop would be the one that most could believe to be behind in planting, but per the five-year average, it is 12% more complete, with 79% of the crop planted and 67% of that crop emerged (15% higher than the five-year emerged average for June 10). The soybean crop is trending well with 60% of the crop rated as “good.”

Missouri’s cotton crop is in the ground with 8% of it squaring. Also, the rice crop from southeast Missouri is planted and is trending “good,” with 73% rated at this level. The winter wheat crop is headed and in “good” condition. The pastureland is rated as good, which is to be expected, with the amount of moisture we have available.

The next seven days will prove to be a final push to complete soybean planting. After these next seven days of low 90s for temperatures, our farmers will be looking for a shot of rain to cool things down a bit and allow those young seedlings to grow. Overall, it has been a different year for the state, but we are seeing significant progress when we do have a few days in a row after the rains to work.

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

Wisconsin

Some parts of Wisconsin still struggle with wet weather. The USDA reported only 2.9 days good for field work last week, delaying planting and spraying. Corn is 87% planted, six days behind the 5-year average. Corn is 78% up, with 69% good to excellent conditions. Beans are 87% planted, one day behind the 5-year average. Beans are 75% up, with 73% good to excellent conditions. Topsoil moisture is 70% adequate and 28% too much. Strong winds over the weekend should help fields dry up.

The last month has been very wet, with some places getting 3-6 inches of rain. This means that most farmers need to focus on weed control. Most farmers in our area are applying herbicides to corn and soybeans as the crop height/weed size requires. The nitrogen side dress season is also busy in our area. There are no unusual problems or concerns, but the season is still young. Luckily, the next 8-14 days look warmer, which will help with some post herbicide applications. The overall bean crop in Wisconsin looks very good so far.

– Cameron Hilgenberg, The DeLong Co.

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