Late August is a busy time of year on and off the farm. Kids are getting ready to go back to school and families are soaking those last few days of summer before the calendar gives way to fall. 

Soy Connext was held last week in Washington D.C., and many of our farmers and industry contacts were busy with this event, visiting buyers and industry colleagues. By this point in the growing season, farmers are starting to get excited about the harvest ahead.  

Southeast Michigan has been receiving pretty timely rains the last few weeks to carry through the dry spells, so conditions are looking pretty decent. Other parts of Michigan missed several of these rains and things are looking much worse with firing of the lower leaves on the corn and a gray color to the soybeans in spots. Overall, both corn and soybean conditions fall in the fair-to-good range. Soybeans have a decent number of pods, so farmers are hopeful for a good yield as long as they fill well. About 95% of soybeans have set pods. Most of them are of good height, which should make it nicer for harvest. The first planted corn is just starting to dent but most is still in the milk stage. The rains as of late should help pack in the starches as long as it doesn’t run out of nutrients from the excessive rainfall earlier this year. 

The crops in northwest Wisconsin continue to appear lush and healthy. Rains have continued to be both timely and adequate. Soybeans are taller than normal and continue to flower while pods are filling. Wisconsin is currently a little behind other states with 86% pod fill, but still on track with the state average for this time of year. With the continued moisture, seed sizes should be above average as long as disease and insect pressures remain low. Overall, the soybean quality falls within the good to excellent range. The edible beans are coloring and look to be ready for harvest normally and on schedule. The corn crop appears to be on normal maturity pace with denting just beginning on earliest planted acreage – about 22% across the state.   

In North Dakota, the crop has continued to improve over the past couple of weeks. Certain areas are still a little bit behind normal development, but it’s nothing to be concerned about, as the state is overall ahead of average. As has been the trend around the Midwest, adequate rainfall has led to disease concern, so farmers are watching closely to see if anything develops.  

Minnesota received another 2-4” of rain last week, and the beans are starting to show a little too much water. Soil moisture is still mainly in the adequate range but beginning to show more in the surplus range. Soybeans have more of a range here, as 54% fall in the good category, but equal amounts after that in both the fair and excellent categories. 93% of soybeans have set pods. 

SSGA’s IP Crop Network is published twice a month, highlighting 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. 

Heat and moisture have been the theme for much of the summer across the Midwest. While it can be miserable for humans, crops (and weeds) appreciate the great growing weather and have been doing well. Early rains are still having an impact, as some crops are behind the five-year average due to extra wet conditions.   

Soybean conditions across Wisconsin remain consistent as the crop moves from full bloom (R2) to early pod set (R3). The season is progressing slightly ahead of the historical average, supported by temperatures within a favorable range, sufficient rainfall and adequate soil moisture. According to USDA reports, approximately 74–75% of soybean acres are rated good to excellent, indicating a stable yield outlook. No-till beans had a less than stellar stand establishment but are now growing rapidly and canopies are looking much better. Corn is starting to enter the reproductive phase with tassels and silks appearing on earliest planted acreage across the region. July temperatures have been 1–3°F above normal, which has contributed to an accelerated growth rate with no significant stress reported so far. Forecasts for hot, humid weather (with highs in the 90s °F) and multiple thunderstorms this week may present challenges, particularly in low-lying or compacted areas. These conditions could elevate the risk of fungal diseases such as white mold and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in wet soils. Monitoring will be necessary in the coming days. Insect pressures are absent at this date but scouting and understanding of disease say to be vigilant as the best growing conditions are also the best conditions for foliar disease development. Looking ahead, the next two weeks will be pivotal. Pod development (R3-R4) is one of the most yield-sensitive stages of soybean growth. 

In Michigan, the winter wheat harvest is finishing with very good yields. 60% has been harvested, which is ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans are looking much better with more growth and finally some better weed control. With all the moisture this spring and early summer, the residual weed control was not very effective. There are lots of blossoms on the beans, so farmers are hopeful for a good yield as long as there is moisture in August. 53% of soybeans are blossoming across the state, which is slightly below average. Corn is looking quite good with most starting to tassel or shooting flag leaves. Good color to most of it other than where it was too wet earlier. 77% of corn falls within the fair to good condition. 

In Minnesota, the week of July 13-20 allowed soybean spraying to finish up and some manual waterhemp pulling in the identity preserved (IP) beans to take place. It’s been a cool, wet year, so there are some weed escapes. IP beans are getting close to closing the rows, but from a growth standpoint, Minnesota is running behind. 60% of soybeans are blooming, which is about 10% below average, and 22% of soybeans are setting pods, which is about 5% below average. 

All the fields scouted in North Dakota are blooming and beginning to set pods, a little behind where beans typically are for this time of year. Currently, North Dakota is at 8% pod set, which is 6% behind the 5-year average. Due to the cold, rainy spring, emergence was late and uneven. Now, the fields are starting to even out and look a little healthier, but plants are shorter than normal. Most fields have really good weed control this year, and little insect pressure as of now. Even though these are prime weather conditions to develop white mold, farmers are not seeing any in the field yet, probably due to the fact that the rows haven’t canopied over like they typically do. 

SSGA’s IP Crop Network is published twice a month, highlighting 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. 

Now that planting is done, farmers across the Midwest are playing the waiting game. During this time of year, it’s common to scout for diseases, insects and weeds, and address these issues accordingly before the crops get too big. Since rising temperatures can increase the risk of insect or disease infestations, a thorough scouting schedule will help identify potential problems in the field.

Everything in Michigan is looking pretty decent despite a period of excessive rainfall. Early planted corn is knee high and has good color. Beans are growing quickly now that the heat has arrived, and they are at 91% emergence across the state. The first planted ones are about 10” tall or more and mostly range across the fair to good condition. Spot spraying for weeds has taken place by some farmers in the beans before they get too big, but overall, the crops are pretty clean. Some spots had to be replanted due to excessive precipitation, but mostly the crops came up the first time.

The recent heat and moisture in Wisconsin are a welcome event after a prolonged period of cooler than normal temps. The dry subsoil concerns are somewhat diminished for now – 74% of subsoil falls into the adequate moisture range – while crop and weed growth are robust. The window for post-herbicide application is closing soon, and planting has been finished for a few weeks. The crop appears short in stature and stands are less than ideal in populations with the earliest planting dates, especially for drilled soybeans on heavier soils. Nearly 60% of Wisconsin soybeans fall into the good condition category, while only 10% are in the excellent category. No flowering has occurred yet in the northwestern part of the state, but buds will appear within days. Across the state, the NASS report shows 3% flowering. The edible bean emergence looks to be good as most of those are in irrigated sands.

In Illinois, IP beans are finally starting to grow. They were slow to grow for a while, but the recent heat has helped jump start the process. The weather is going to be very hot in the next 7-10 days, which should help the beans. Currently, the NASS report puts emergence at 90%, with over 60% being in the good to excellent condition category.

Figure 1, temperature

In the last two weeks, temperatures have been near average across most of Minnesota. In the southern part, temperatures were 1-3°F above average, encouraging rapid soybean growth (Figure 1). Additionally, in the southern region and the northwestern tip, less rainfall than usual was recorded, ranging from 0.5 to 2 inches (Figure 2), which could lead to drought stress in the future. In southern Minnesota, early planting dates are reaching the R1 stage. Soybean flowering is a critical phase for high yield, and 5% of soybeans across the state are blooming.

Figure 2, precipitation

North Dakota had a significant storm on June 20. This storm had high winds, tornados, hail and heavy rain. Many acres and farms were affected and are still working to determine the crop damage. Early indications suggest losses will likely be less than anticipated, but we will need to see how the soybeans respond over the next few days. During the storm, many farmers and elevators also lost grain storage due to the high winds. This is problematic since it is likely that some of the damaged grain bins will not be able to be repaired by harvest.

SSGA’s IP Crop Network is published twice a month, highlighting 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.

A torrent of rain has made its way throughout the Midwest in the back half of May. Farmers are hard at work trying to finish getting the crop in the ground. SSGA’s IP Crop Network will be published twice a month, highlighting 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.

Planting has come to a standstill for parts of the Upper Midwest. There has been very little activity in the past 10 days due to rain and high winds. Everyone is sitting with adequate moisture for the most part so as soon as the fields are fit to be planted, the rest of the soybeans will be planted in plenty of time to ensure they reach maturity. In North Dakota, farmers are about 65% planted for food-grade soybeans and expect to be close to 100% in the next two weeks. Overall, farmers are at 58% planted for soybeans, which is well ahead of the 5-year average of 43%.

In Minnesota, 91% of soybeans have been planted with 56% emerged. This is again well ahead of the five-year average. Many farmers have finished planting and are starting to think about their next steps.

Over the past two weeks, favorable weather has provided a significant window for planting across Wisconsin. Extended dry conditions have allowed growers to make rapid progress with spring planting. Many farmers have not only caught up but are now ahead of schedule compared to recent years. According to the latest national planting progress reports, Wisconsin is outpacing both last year’s progress and the five-year average – a positive development for early crop establishment. Recent rainfall across much of the state has helped ease concerns about early-season moisture deficits. Reports from growers indicate rainfall totals between 1.0 and 1.5 inches in many areas, offering timely relief for germinating seeds and recently emerged crops. Soil moisture levels have improved modestly, though some variability remains depending on local precipitation patterns. Looking ahead, the seven-day forecast into June suggests continued chances for additional showers, which could further support early crop growth and soil recharge. However, farmers are keeping a close eye on potential delays in fieldwork, particularly herbicide applications and post-emergence treatments, should rainfall persist. Crop conditions so far appear favorable, with early-planted corn and soybeans showing strong emergence in fields with good drainage.

In east central Illinois, the mid-April corn planting looks great along with the later planted corn, and farmers are starting to spray post herbicides. Mid-April beans are growing slower than wanted because of cooler temperatures but will hopefully take off soon. The last planted beans are just starting to emerge – Illinois is at 58% emergence as of the most recent NASS report. Last week saw 2.5 inches of rain and an F1 tornado about half a mile from one grower’s shop, but no significant field damage.

In southeast Michigan, farmers are still planting to keep up the pace. They can see the end of corn planting and soybeans are over half done. Farmers have had plenty of rain delays this spring overall. For the week ending May 25, Michigan farmers only had 2.4 suitable days for fieldwork.

According to the USDA NASS report, Missouri experienced 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork, providing a small window for planting, spraying, and other fieldwork activities in the week ending May 25. Growing conditions remain strong across the board, and moisture levels continue to support early season growth. Overall, soil profiles are in good condition with 75% of topsoil and 80% of subsoil having adequate moisture levels. The winter wheat crop is looking very good with 75% being rated at good to excellent. 96% of the crop has headed which is 3% ahead of the 5-year average. 94% of the corn crop has been planted, slightly ahead of the 5-year average of 90%. Of the corn that has been planted, 78% has emerged. 72% of soybean acres have been planted which is well ahead of the 5-year average of 53%, with 48% emerged.

Stay tuned for more updates from SSGA throughout the growing season. View the entire NASS report from May 27 here.