Preliminary route reports from Day 3 of the Pro Farmer Tour
Preliminary Route Report with Brian Grete, eastern Tour leader
What counties (with state and district) have you sampled from?
Illinois: Woodford, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, Lee, Whiteside
Districts 1, 4
Corn yield range:
- 148.9 to 238.3 bpa
Corn yield average:
- 201.4 bpa
Soybean pod count range in 3’x3’ square:
- 734 to 1637
Soybean pod count average in 3’x3’ square:
- 1234.4
Please share a few (one to three) comments from your route:
As we drove north and westward, moisture levels compared to more central areas of the state were quite noticeable. Foliar issues were more prevalent in the more northern samples, with plants starting to breakdown from disease pressure. Though field centers were better than end rows and edges of fields. There was plenty of variability within fields, but yields were solid despite the stress the crop’s been through.
Soybean pod counts were strong and consistent, aside from one sample. Disease, weed and insect pressure was minimal.
Preliminary Route Report with Mark Bernard, eastern Tour consultant
What counties (with state and district) have you sampled from?
Illinois: Christian, Sangamon, Morgan, Macoupin, Greene, Cass
District 6
Corn yield range:
- 144 to 223 bpa
Corn yield average:
- 189.68 bpa
Soybean pod count range in 3’x3’ square:
- 120 to 1662.7
Soybean pod count average in 3’x3’ square:
- 1047.58
Please share a few comments from your route:
Crops were much more mature than we’ve seen in the previous two days. Our samples were at 1/2 milk line to milk layer. This area is motoring right along towards harvest—and should be, we’ve noticed some major stalk quality issues—The crop’s been pushed hard and is starting to cannibalize itself. A windstorm at this point would not bode well for Central Illinois. We did see some tar spot, though it seemingly had little impact on the ear. Doubt that it will have much of an effect as far advanced as the crop is.
Soybeans, for the most part, were pretty good compared to the route yesterday. Pods are filled out compared to the flatter pods we’d seen the previous two days. The bean crop is certainly heading down the home stretch as well. Moisture was variable, but there was adequate moisture in most fields. Did see a little SDS, though nothing widespread…weed and insect pressure was light.
Preliminary Route Report with Chip Flory, western Tour leader
What counties (with state and district) have you sampled from?
Iowa: Ida, Woodbury, Cherokee, Buena Vista
Districts 1, 4
Corn yield range:
- 45.13 to 194.5 bpa
Corn yield average:
- 128.55 bpa
Soybean pod count range in 3’x3’ square:
- 785.2 to 2,499.3
Soybean pod count average in 3’x3’ square:
- 1467.6
Please share a few comments from your route:
We’ve seen the effects of June in shorter ears and grain length. The worst field we sampled was hail damaged. Ear counts aren’t off all that much but did see some severe tipback. Not what I was expecting to see. Lots of plants fired from the ground to the ear due to prolonged moisture stress.
Soybeans still have a chance, but I’m seeing white mold in almost every field that I’ve been in and can pick out the pockets just driving by. It seems early July rains likely triggered the mold growth. Combined with moisture stress, the mold is killing the plant and causing widespread color variability within fields. Pod counts are good, but the crop will look entirely different next week.
Preliminary Route Report with Brent Judisch, western Tour consultant
What counties (with state and district) have you sampled from?
Iowa—Harrison, Monona, Woodbury, Plymouth
Corn yield range:
- 129 to 229 bpa
Corn yield average:
- 180.4 bpa
Soybean pod count range in 3’x3’ square:
- 457 to 1743
Soybean pod count average in 3’x3’ square:
- 903
Please share a few comments from your route:
We saw a notable reduction in ear counts and length, which kept much of the crop from reaching 200 bu.—with June weather the likely culprit. While rains in the last two weeks have greened things up, the damage was already done a month to six weeks ago. Samples were Dented; 1/4 milk line to milk layer. Almost every corn field looks better from the road than the middle of the field, where the samples were taken.
Beans aren’t showing any stress by looking at them, but at the same time, we didn’t see the pods per plant that we’d hoped for. Weed and insect pressure is minimal. We did see some shorter maturity beans where the whole field is turning. I would consider the western Iowa soybean crop mildly disappointing.
