Last week’s U.S. Drought Monitor confirmed what most Illinois farmers already know: Unseasonably dry and moderate drought conditions have moved into the state. According to the monitor, moderate drought conditions can be seen throughout most of Illinois, supported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Illinois field office report of June 4.

Fifty-five percent of southwestern Illinois farmers reported topsoil graded as “very short,” according to the report, while 44 percent of those in the southeastern region reported likewise.

In northwestern Illinois, 20 percent of farmers found their topsoil to be “very short,” as did 17 percent in the west-southeast and 11 percent in the west, respectively. No farmers in northeastern Illinois described their topsoil moisture level as “very short.”

Rapid deterioration of crops can be expected in most of these regions if rain doesn’t bring more moisture to crops soon, according to climatologists. The National Weather Service (NWS), however, indicated dry and hot weather is expected throughout much of Illinois during the period of June 12-16.

As of June 4, only 1 percent of Illinois farmers described their corn crop as “very poor” and just 4 percent as “poor,” the NASS report stated. Soybean producers rated their crop as 1 percent “very poor” and 5 percent “poor.”

With 99 percent of Illinois’ corn emerged at an average of 19 inches tall, early reports indicate some of the crop in western Illinois is sulfur-deficient. According to University of Illinois assistant professor of crop sciences Fabian Fernandez, sulfur deficiency causes yellowing of the foliage and is often confused with nitrogen deficiency.

“I suspect these deficiency symptoms are due to relatively low sulfur concentrations in the soil that are exacerbated by dry conditions that do not allow the crop to extract sufficient sulfur from the soil,” Fernandez stated. “If there is sufficient rainfall, this deficiency will probably disappear as the root system develops and starts tapping more soil volume.”

Sulfur may need to be applied into the soil by farmers if dry conditions in western Illinois are not soon alleviated, Fernandez advised.

Rain is needed across Indiana, but it’s not likely the state will see enough to relieve drought and improve corn and soybean growing conditions much this week.

There was a chance of rain in southern Indiana Sunday night with clouds moving towards the north into Monday, according to Lonnie Fisher, a meteorologist with the NW (Northern Indiana Weather Forecast Office) in Syracuse.

“Probably most areas across (northern Indiana) will see a quarter-inch of rain out of this,” he said, “but it’s not enough. After that, a cold front and high pressure will move through the area with no rain in the forecast over this week.”

One plus to this forecast is the lower temperatures will minimize moisture loss from the ground, Fisher said; however, if the clouds move too fast it could push the moisture east into Ohio.

Dan Dale, who has been farming roughly 35 years just south of Wabash, said growth is “kind of stunted” for his 350 acres of corn and 450 acres of soybeans.

“But right now, we’re not in the critical reproductive stage (when the tassels come out and pollination occurs). Everyone pretty much got planting done in early April and early July might be pollination time,” he said.

Herb Ringle, who has been farming 50-some years in the Urbana area, said conditions there are “very dry. We’d like to see an inch to an inch-and-a-half of rain if it didn’t dump all at once.”

Ringle’s 550 acres of corn and 550 in soybeans are beginning to show signs of stress: Corn leaves are rolling up to conserve moisture and soybeans are wilting a little. “If we don’t get rain this week, things will begin to deteriorate,” he said.

Rain and cooler temperatures did provide some relief the week of May 27-June 2, according to NASS. Ninety-seven percent of soybeans across the state had been planted. This compares with 93 percent last year and 67 percent for the five-year average.

Corn crops were rated 59 percent good to excellent in the NASS report ending June 4. Conditions last year were 52 percent good to excellent.

With topsoil, moisture was rated as short in 43 percent of the fields and 44 percent of the subsoil statewide had adequate moisture, according to NASS. The previous week, 49 percent of topsoil was short of moisture and 46 percent of subsoil was adequate.

Soil was wetter last year, with 68 percent of topsoil at adequate moisture levels and 62 percent of subsoil rated adequate.

Gentle, steady rainfall throughout much of Michigan last week brought needed moisture to fields, according to last week’s report from the Michigan field office of NASS.

Corn planting was complete in all but the most northern reaches of the state. Farmers reported 95 percent emergence of the crop, up from 55 percent this time last year, and said fields look good.

Bruce Mackellar, Michigan State University extension educator in southwestern Michigan, reported in his Crop Advisory Team Alert that “early-planted corn is at V5 to V6. The race is on to complete sidedress nitrogen operations on the earliest planted fields.”

He reported while moisture has been adequate so far, soil reserves may be lower than usual as corn enters this growth stage, and soil moisture will become more critical as corn continues to grow.

Paul Gross, extension educator in Isabella County, agreed that an “all-day soaker” on June 1 was just what crops in his area needed. “The corn crop is planted and progressing well ahead of normal. Crop size ranges from knee-high to two to three leaf corn,” he reported.

Soybean planting is nearing completion throughout the state, too, according to NASS, with farmers reporting emergence of 72 percent last week. Both Gross and Mackellar reported the crops look good in their areas.

Dry bean planting continued across the state, with farmers reporting 27 percent of the crop planted, compared to only 12 percent this time last year. According to the NASS report, 96 percent of the state’s winter wheat crop is headed, up from 48 percent last year, and 5 percent is turning yellow.

Early-planted potatoes filled the rows in southern Michigan and sugar beets are nearing row closure in the Saginaw Valley and Thumb areas.