IP Crop Network: August 25 report

The soybean crop condition in the Upper Midwest is variable. There are large areas of drought and areas where the soybean crop may be quite good. In the drought areas, yields will be depressed, and any precipitation will go toward filling the pods that are already formed. With a forecast of warm, dry conditions continuing over the next 10-14 days, and harvest may begin sooner than normal. In the good areas, the crop should be good quality with minimal disease pressure this year. Weed control has been difficult this growing season. Due to the dry weather, many areas lost the crop canopy and hence weeds really became a problem over the past two weeks. 

It is becoming very dry in many growing areas in the southern third of Minnesota. Some areas more than others due to some missed or lower amounts of rainfall that passed through the state within the last two weeks. Despite dry conditions, kernel development in corn and pod development in soybeans continues to look good, though current weather conditions may take top end yields away from both crops. 96% of pods are set in soybeans across the state, which is 4% above the five-year average. Beginning to see lower leaf firing in corn, especially in dry areas, and just this past weekend some lower leaf yellow was noticed in soybeans in southern Minnesota. If present weather continues, harvest could start earlier than expected. As of the Aug. 22 crop report, both corn and soybeans fall mainly within the good category. 

In east-central Illinois, the weather has finally straightened out after an extensive rainy season. In mid-August, parts of the state received up to 12” of rain. In the past two weeks, only half of the days have been suitable for fieldwork, according to the NASS Aug. 24 update. One farmer is hoping to start corn harvest the week after Labor Day, but doesn’t think the yield will be as good as initially predicted, owing mostly to the extensive rain. Soybeans should have average yield, but due to the below normal temperature, may not be quite ready as soon as other years. 

In northwest Wisconsin, the crops are showing considerable stress on all soil types with the worst drought conditions on dryland sands. The reported rainfall on one farm is seven inches total from May to August. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Wisconsin is sitting in some sort of drought conditions, with a part of northern Wisconsin considered to be in extreme drought. Disease and insect pressures are not an issue. Edible beans are colored and harvest will begin soon as the heat and dry weather have accelerated maturity. Irrigation has been helpful, but the ability for many producers to meet water demands is a concern. At this stage, yields look to be reduced from the trend by 10% to 15% on corn and 20% or more on beans unless significant rainfall happens in the near future. In spite of dryness, cover crops following wheat have emerged and are growing, but not as aggressively as one would like to see. 

This twice monthly report highlights growing conditions for identity preserved crops from different regions around the country. The reports include both firsthand accounts and data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) weekly Crop Progress reports.