The 2025 growing season in Illinois delivered another storyline characterized by sharp weather contrasts, average crop condition ratings, some disease pressure in places, and very good — if not record-setting — yields in many, but not all, areas. As we have seen before, crops showed their ability to translate good mid-season conditions to good yields even with very dry late-season conditions…
Category: Corn
Another bin-busting corn year in Illinois approaches maturity
It was no surprise to see the 2025 corn yield projected at 222 bushels for Iowa, but it was surprising to see 221 bushels projected for Illinois. Ihe US yield is predicted to be 188.8 bushels per acre, 9.5 bushels higher than the previous yield record, set in 2024. So, while 2025 is set to be a great year for corn, we will consider here what it will take to achieve such high yields and what might prevent them from reaching such high levels, at least in some places…
Planting and early-season corn and soybean progress – 2025 update
Overall, crop stands are good to very good across most fields, reflecting the relative freedom from heavy rain, flooding, and crusting after planting. By the beginning of June, corn that had been planted in mid-April in northern and west-northwestern Illinois was just beginning to accelerate stem growth – the process that initiates rapid growth and nutrient uptake…
Optimizing corn and soybean seeding rates
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.
Have we missed the best planting window for 2025?
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. Should more have been planted?
Considerations for fall application of anhydrous ammonia
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…
Can Illinois corn yields really be that high?
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…
Stress and the 2024 corn and soybean crops
As high temperatures continue and rainfall remains scarce, many Illinois producers are getting concerned about prospects for the 2024 crops. While it is not very productive to ask ourselves if we should have managed tillage and planting differently, remembering how this year’s crop is faring might inform some of our decisions in the future…
Corn and soybean after a slow start to the 2024 season
Although April-May rainfall exceeded normal amounts in Illinois by up to 50 percent in some areas, and average temperatures have exceeded normal by several degrees, the weather record fails to capture what the 2024 planting season actually looked like…
Wet Spring Weather and Nitrogen Loss Revisited
April temperatures were warmer than normal in Illinois, making the January to April period one of the warmest on record. April was also wetter than normal, and as rains have continued into May, questions about nitrogen (N) losses continue to increase…