La Salle County crop and rainfall report: Crop duster time begins

The summer crop and rainfall report, which features crop condition and rainfall updates from La Salle County farmers, is published regularly during the growing season. The following report covers July 5-July 11 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

David Hall, Serena: For the reporting week, we received 0.1 inches of rain, which came over the weekend, as we dodged most of the scattered showers and thunderstorms. Of course, it chose to rain during the 4-H Fair, but everyone had a good experience anyhow. Crops are growing tremendously. Corn is pollinating during ideal temperatures of mid-80s. A few crop-dusters are starting to show up, as farmers make decisions to apply fungicide or not. Of most concern is northern corn leaf blight in these conditions of moist humid air with moderate temperatures. Soybeans are flowering and setting new leaves, outgrowing any herbicide burn received from post-emergence applications. Second crop beans are planted in harvested wheat fields. Commodity markets still seem unsure of where prices should be, considering drought in the Dakotas, heavy rains south of Interstate 74 into Missouri, but almost ideal growing conditions from Illinois to Ohio. Have a safe week everyone!

David Myer, Marseilles: The weather pattern has been variable the past three weeks from very hot and humid to cool and damp, which will lead to more crop disease pressure as we move through the crop season. Many corn fields are tasseling and those yellow crop dusters are a regular site over many fields spraying fungicide to help battle the disease pressure and ensure better plant health. Soybeans are struggling through the wetter soil conditions as they prefer drier conditions. Weed control on the beans appears very good, but will more weeds germinate in these perfect conditions? There is still lots of uneven soybean plants in the early planted fields. Some haying was done early last week but on hold until a dry spell shows up again. Wheat harvest enjoyed a few almost perfect days around the Fourth of July but since it’s on hold, many acres were harvested, and straw was baled and even some seen planters out putting soybeans into the wheat stubble. Rainfall totaled 0.75 inches for the past week, which is almost ideal this time of year.

Bill Gray, Tonica/Lostant: Last week I received 0.7 inches of rain. Corn fields are tasseling out and starting to release pollen. It sure smells good on our early morning rides to check fields. We are monitoring fields for problems, such as insect pests and disease issues. The Air Tractors will be flying soon to apply fungicide on some fields. Soybean fields are also looking good other than where water stood too long in a few areas. A few fields were sprayed with herbicide last week. We continue to monitor Japanese beetle feeding on leaves but so far it hasn’t been too bad.

Some of the hay fields in the area have been cut and baled the second time. Wheat fields locally were cut and the straw was baled. Roadside ditches and waterways are being mowed to control weeds also. Have a good week and be safe.

Ken Bernard, Grand Ridge: Received an inch of rain for the week, corn is in full tassel and pollination mode, it also is perfect weather for disease in the corn fields. There will be a lot of airplanes flying on fungicide in the next week to 10 days when weather will cooperate for that application. Soybeans are OK but not perfect by any means, the excess of moisture is not good on the bean plant. They will probably also be sprayed sometime in the future too. Wheat straw got baled up last Tuesday and Wednesday, and I got the small seed cover crop planted for cattle hay on Thursday and Friday. Which I am glad that that is all done. Starting to mow roads and spray weeds around fields and yards, with the moisture all weeds are growing perfect which we do not like. Have a safe week!

Geoffrey Janssen, Rutland: Another fairly wet week in the southern part of the county. I received 3.3 inches of rain so fieldwork is very limited. Some post spraying of beans still going on. Corn is tasseling and pollination has started.

Rainfall (by inches):

David Hall 0.1

David Myer 0.75

Bill Gray 0.7

Ken Bernard 1

Geoffrey Janssen 3.3