Illinois
Warmer weather and sunny skies have continued to give Illinois crops a boost, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Even with a lack of rainfall, standing water is still a problem in some parts of the state, and some fields that had dried were underwater for a second time. Some areas reported yellow spotting on corn and beans, where standing water was previously.

Because planting is completed, now is the time to start scouting for pests. The University of Illinois extension offers eight simple rules for scouting. First, it’s crucial to correctly identify the pest. Incorrect identification or lacking identification of a causal agent in the field may lead to unnecessary use of pesticides, missed pest management opportunities, elimination of beneficial organisms or worse.

Second, understand how environmental conditions influence pests, but also understand that environment is just one of the factors affecting disease development and severity. Third, keep up with the latest. Resources and time are limited, and the efficient crop scout is the one who stays apprised of the latest pest developments and plans activities accordingly.

Rule four, remember that soybeans, minus rust, can be tough. Rule five, know what structures/stages you should be looking for during each growth stage. The crop scout unaware of pertinent structures and stages may well waste time looking for evidence of a pest that could be more easily detected or evaluated via an alternative technique.

Rule six urges scouts to take more than a glance. Scouts may be tempted to look at limited areas of fields, but good decisions require good survey. Recognizing what nature can do to help the situation is rule seven. Occasionally, “natural control” may ward off or eliminate a pest before management expenditures are required by the producer.

And finally, when possible, catch the problem early. Although these rules were provided by extension for soybeans, they can be applied to any crop.
By Deborah Behrends
Illinois Correspondent

Indiana
For many farmers, 2011 has been one of being unable to win for losing. Cold, rainy weather prevented optimal late April and early May planting of corn and soybeans. Last week, already nearly the middle of June, gave them a much-needed break with the return of hot, rain-free weather that allowed planting to resume.

According to the NASS Indiana field office, corn planting was 96 percent done, compared with 82 percent the previous week. Of this 81 percent has emerged, compared with 57 percent a week earlier. The numbers are lower for soybeans – 78 percent planted, 54 percent emerged.

Brian Romine of Kosciusko County said all of his corn and soybeans have been planted. “It’s a mixed bag,” he said. “There are a lot of holes in the fields. Some of the corn and soybeans are doing well, but some are just emerging.”
He replanted 120 acres of corn only to see it drown out during the heavy rains that returned cold weather to the area the week of June 13-17.

The question nagging farmers is: “Can corn and soybean crops overcome late planting?” And the reply – “Yield losses generally accelerate as planting dates get later” – is not encouraging. According to NASS, while summer weather conditions tend to dominate yield outcomes, recent price behavior suggests that corn and soybean markets have become more optimistic about acreage, yield and production prospects for 2011.

As a cautionary note, however, it notes that optimism seems more justified for soybeans than for corn.
By Ann Allen
Indiana Correspondent

Ohio
Farmers took advantage of drier weather to catch up on fieldwork last week.  Topsoil moisture is still at a surplus in many parts of the state, according to NASS’ weekly crop progress report, which isn’t much of a surprise to area farmers, given that precipitation averaged 1.26 inches for the week (0.31 inches above normal).

The 10-day forecast at press time showed warmer temperatures, but unfortunately, there is also more rain in it.

 To date, 97 percent of the state’s corn is in the ground, with only 57 percent emerged, compared to 96 percent last year. Seventy-seven percent of the soybean crop was planted, compared to 85 percent last year, and only 29 percent of it has emerged.

Last year at this time, all of Ohio’s oat crop was in the ground, with 99 percent emerged; this year, 83 percent has been planted and 71 percent emerged. Only 25 percent of the winter wheat crop is starting to turn color, compared to 55 percent last year.

For forage growers, the odds are better: 72 percent of first-cutting alfalfa has been harvested, slightly lower than last year, and the odds are about 50 percent for grass and mixed hay, down from 6 percent last year.

Vegetable crops in the ground include cabbage, onions, potatoes and some sweet corn. Only 62 percent of the cucumber crop is in right now, compared to 76 percent  at the same time last year. Potatoes are also running behind, with 67 percent of the crop in the ground. Last year at this time, growers had 100 percent planted.

Even the strawberry harvest is running behind, with only 53 percent harvested, compared to 66 percent last year at the same time. Some growers have seen problems with fungus and lower yields in their strawberry patch because of extreme moisture conditions.

Of crops, only processing tomatoes are running ahead of last year, with 86 percent in the ground, compared to 77 percent last year at the same time.
By Susan Mykrantz
Ohio Correspondent