Illinois Agronomy Lab
A go-to source for the latest research and agronomic information for field crops in Illinois
A major focus of the Illinois Agronomy Lab is exploring ways to advance the productivity and environmental performance of row-crop systems in Illinois and the upper Midwest. To do it, our team takes an interdisciplinary approach to document and understand the implications of a variety of in-field conservation practices (e.g., 4R nutrient stewardship, cover cropping, and conservation tillage) on crop productivity and profitability, soil and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient losses. This knowledge is then integrated and delivered through our Extension program.
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Here you can find information and crop management in Illinois
Crop Performance Trials
Looking for information on crop performance to help you select suitable hybrids and varieties? Check out the University of Illinois Variety Testing trials here.
From the Blog:
Seed costs for corn and soybeans have risen considerably in recent years, along with genetic yield potential and improved ability of planted seeds to emerge and establish productive plants. Here we reviewed seeding rate trials to highlight what works best in Illinois.
The dry weather had fields in some places dry enough to work and plant around the middle of March, and although NASS did not report any acreage of corn and soybeans planted as of March 30 (they typically use 1% as the threshold), we know that some fields were planted by the end of March.…
If we were to look at the records of planting date and weather from 2024 without knowing the yields, we might not guess that corn yield beat and soybean tied previous yield records for Illinois. Here, we’ll take a quick look at the 2024 growing season, and consider whether we might apply lessons from it…
With warm weather prevailing through most of September and dry conditions through mid-October, corn and soybean harvest in Illinois has progressed well, with 49% of the corn crop and 62% of the soybean crop harvested by October 13, compared to 5-year averages of 44% for corn and 47% for soybeans…
Ratings for the 2024 Illinois soybean crop have been high most of the season, and the August 1 estimate released by NASS is for yield at average 66 bushels per acre. That would be a new record for Illinois, 2 bushels higher than the 2021 yield, and 4.9 bushels higher than the 2024 trendline yield…
Wet weather delayed planting of some of the 2024 Illinois corn crop, but stands (except in drowned-out low spots) are generally good. Warm, dry weather in June caused some water stress in places, but kept development moving and helped roots to establish…