IP Crop Network – July 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

The crop across the state is in many different stages. Most of the state has received some amount of rainfall over the past seven days and currently the remnants of Hurricane Beryl are dumping 1-6 inches of rain across the southern third of the state.  

Corn and beans across the northern two-thirds of Illinois have progressed nicely with a high percentage of the corn fields now pollinating. Beans that were planted in April are also now entering reproductive stages. The southern third of the state has the most variability in the crop stages.  

Prior to today, there were still a lot of beans being planted/replanted due to adverse conditions. The soaking hurricane rain will halt planting for now, but for any flooded areas, growers will still replant through the month of July to try and salvage some income from those acres. 

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

 Michigan 

It took until late June to get our soybean crop planted in Michigan. A few fields fell into the prevented plant category, but this is limited to poorly drained fields with excessive rainfall. The crop has lots of variability by field caused by planting date and within field by water damaged low areas. The best-looking fields were planted early and have weathered the excessive rainfall better than later planted smaller beans.  The most advanced fields are at full canopy and in the R2 growth stage.   

 Most pre-emerge herbicides worked well this year with adequate rainfall for incorporation and activation. Similarly, post-emerge herbicides have performed well, as weeds have been actively growing. Because of the active growth and sometimes waiting for dry field conditions, weed size was bigger than preferred. 

 The USDA crop weather report for July 8 rates our soybean crop as 60% good to excellent and 35% fair with 22% blooming. Topsoil moisture is rated as 17% surplus, 72% adequate and 11% short. This has us set up for good yield potential if the remainder of the growing season is beneficial. But maybe not quite as good as the commodity marketers believe.              

 – Mark Seamon, Research Director, Michigan Soybean Committee 

 North Dakota 

June and early July have been wet and cool in most areas of North Dakota. Although small grains are developing well under these conditions, crops such as soybeans, dry beans and corn are lagging due to a lack of growing degree days. According to USDA’S NASS report published on July 8, there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 0% concise, 3% short, 77% adequate and 20% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 0% concise, 5% short, 79% adequate and 16% surplus. The overall crop growing conditions are rated as fair to good for most crops in the state. Soybean conditions rated 1% very poor, 6% poor, 35% fair, 56% good, and 2% excellent. Soybeans blooming was 9%, well behind 29% last year and 18% for the five-year average. 

Wet, cool and humid conditions created an ideal environment for disease development; the top concerns are seedling diseases, white mold, FHB and a few others. Weed and disease management have been the top priority for most farmers in the region although timely application of herbicides and fungicides has been an issue due to wet and windy conditions. 

IDC is starting to show up in soybeans in many areas. Insect pressure is low in most areas, but farmers are closely monitoring pests such as cereal aphids, soybean aphids, grasshoppers and wheat midge. 

Overall, crops are progressing well. However, the cool and wet weather have delayed development of corn and soybeans. 

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

Minnesota 

What a difference a year makes! Last year, Minnesota was dry. According to the July 6 drought monitor report, 98% of the state was in abnormally dry (D0) to severe (D2) drought status. Today, none of Minnesota is rated in any form of drought. The spring rains were frequent, and planting was difficult and extended. Due to the extensive number of drowned-out areas and spots just not planted, the number of harvested acres in the fall will be less than what was predicted this spring. A more precise estimate of planted acres will be available in August as growers are currently submitting prevent plant claims now. 

 The planted acreage is not limited by insufficient water. In the July 7 Minnesota crop progress report, topsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% short to very short, 48% adequate and 51% surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 1% very short to short, 51% adequate and 48% surplus. A much-needed dry spell is predicted for the first part of July. NOAA is predicting a somewhat warmer-than-normal and drier-than-normal summer (July through September) – but not as severe as summer 2023. Weed control has been difficult to attain as the weather, and the extended planting window has considerably complicated application efforts. Crop canopy has not closed in many fields, so weed control remains an important issue. Growers and applicators should pay close attention to label restrictions in this variable growth stage environment. 

Most of the annual crops are now in the late vegetative/early reproductive growth stage. However, due to the extended planting window, crop growth stage is highly variable across the Minnesota landscape. Due to the high humidity and mild temperature, disease pressure is high in many areas. Many growers are attempting to apply fungicides to susceptible crop acres with variable results. Growers are also applying post-emergent herbicides on the late-planted acreage. Reports from pesticide applicators indicate tank mixing of herbicides (coarse droplet size generally required) and fungicides (fine droplet size preferred) will be a more common occurrence in 2024. This requires compromise in several factors of pesticide application. The efficacy of crop pest management may be reduced, but time to apply is limited and decisions must be made. As always, the impact on yield will be determined, finally, at harvest.   

The 2024 planting season has been difficult. The crops are now up, although emergence has been extremely variable. The lack of canopy closure over much of the crop acreage is worrisome. Crop yield will be dependent on the success of post-emergent weed control program, stem disease pressure and the future insect issues. The current recommendation is to scout, scout, then scout some more. Timely management will be critical for decent yields. These and other concerns will make July and August two very long months. Consequently, 2024 will go down as one of the most complicated cropping years, ever. 

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

Missouri 

Rain has been hitting all around in Missouri. The Coast Guard just abandoned the restrictions of use on the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles, Mo., due to flooding and currents. Over the past six days there have been two deaths due to flash flooding in Boone County (Columbia, Mo.), and it has led to the state only seeing 3.9 days for suitable field work over the past seven days with 73% of the state’s topsoil moisture rated as adequate. Our pasture and range lands are doing well right now. Our wheat harvest slowed with 5% more wheat to be harvested in 2024.   

A majority of the Missouri corn crop is rated “good” with 60% of it silking and 9% at dough. One-third of our soybean crop is blooming with 8% of the crop already setting pods. Overall, 62% of the Missouri soybean crop is rated as “good.” Our cotton crop will be getting a dose of rain this week from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl with 61% of it squaring and 5% setting bolls. Rice will be setting heads in the coming weeks – estimated at 3% of the crop beginning to set heads. Overall, these past weeks of hot days have really helped the rice crop push forward in maturity. 

– Bryan Stobaugh, Director of Licensing and Commercialization, Missouri Soybeans 

Wisconsin 

Farmers in Wisconsin faced ongoing challenges due to the weather, with only three days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 7, according to the USDA-NASS crop progress report.  Frequent rain resulted in topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions being rated as adequate to surplus across the state.  

Corn emergence is nearly complete, with 1% of the crop starting to silk. Soybean blooming reached 22%, two days ahead of last year. Corn and soybeans were in good condition, with around 60% rated as good to excellent. Oat condition was rated 78% good to excellent, with 84% of the oat crop headed and 32% coloring. Winter wheat condition is at 81% good to excellent, with 90% of the winter wheat crop colored.  

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