Some Counties In Illinois Are Exceptionally Dry

STEVE BRAND

URBANA, ILLINOIS

The past couple of weeks have been exceptionally dry for Northern Illinois. We have had a few sporadic rain events with rainfall totals being very isolated and regional from pop up severe storms. With the rain we received this past week including Wednesday 6/18 we have moved towards a more normal rain total on the season, which was needed. Much of I-80 and north has moved between D0 and D1, which is a slight improvement from some localized D2 droughts. Temperatures are jumping, and we are expecting some hot and humid weather in the weeks to come with more normalized temperatures for this time of year. Overall, we had a great week for Growth Degree Units (GDU), and for the year, Dekalb area is up to 740 growth units as of 6/18.

Corn, for the most part, is very drought stressed and showing signs in the form of pineapple corn. Skinny, withered plants across most fields. The crops are varying widely in growth stage with some fields at V4 pushing into V5 about 15 inches tall, with others at strong and healthy V7 plants 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall. The localized rain from significant pop-up storms the past week are to thank, and many fields are either the have or have-nots when it has come to rainfall. The two corn pictures I have posted below are from fields about 2 miles apart in Dekalb County, really showing how isolated some of these rain events have been. The rain on 6/18 brought an average of 0.5″ to over 1″ depending on how far south you are through the Joliet region.

Soybeans are still stunted a slight bit from the drought but overall appear to be healthy. Fields are ranging between 3 to 5 trifoliates, and the added moisture will continue to push more growth. I have not seen any early season diseases but have noticed a slight bit of insect damage across most fields, but nothing to write home about. Overall, fields have good stands and good vigor and should grow out of the stunting.

I did not have a chance to get into any wheat fields this week. The few I drove past and got a quick look at seem to be in Feekes 11 around dough stage and are ripening nicely. I will hopefully have scouted for any late season diseases by next week as well. With the increased growth units this week and the forecast calling for hotter temperatures, the wheat should start to ripen nicely for an early July harvest.   ∆

STEVE BRAND

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS