Illinois Farmer Sees Resilient Crops Despite Dryness

A Central Illinois farmer says his corn and soybean crops are holding up surprisingly well despite recent dry weather conditions, largely thanks to timely rains and cooler temperatures.

“You’re starting to see some cracks in the ground. You know, you’re kind of on the edge right now,” said Doug Schroeder, who farms in Champaign and McLean Counties.

Schroeder explained that even though rainfall has been scarce, his fields have effectively utilized the limited moisture they’ve received.

“So far, no pineappling in the corn is really bad,” he commented, noting the characteristic curling of corn leaves indicative of drought stress. “The soybeans are leaving their leaves out, not pointing up too much. We’ve got some more chances for rain this week and a little bit cooler temperatures, so we’re OK. But I would sure like to see what too much rain looks like.”

Strong Start Despite Dry Conditions

According to Schroeder, crop stands are among the best he’s observed in over four decades of farming, thanks to ideal planting conditions earlier this spring.

“We had very few replants,” Schroeder told Brownfield. “Good stands coming right out of the ground, really good soil conditions to plant into. I told our team this might be the best start I’ve seen in my 40-some years of farming.”

However, Schroeder acknowledges the critical role weather plays as the season progresses, particularly as the summer months continue.

“We were really good until about two weeks ago, right before that hot stretch,” Schroeder explained. “We had enough moisture in the ground to get us through the hot stretch. But recently, a lot of rain hit south of I-72. We probably averaged three, four-tenths of an inch on our farms, just enough to buy us a little bit of time.”

Markets Respond to Crop Conditions

The promising outlook in Schroeder’s fields and throughout much of the Midwest has had an immediate impact on grain markets.

“The trade-off of this is what the Board of Trade is doing. Rain makes grain, and it’s that time of year,” Schroeder said, referring to the downward pressure on commodity prices driven by expectations of strong yields across the region. “We probably have sold more ahead this year because things look so good. So, we kept feeding the market. Time will tell.”

Schroeder remains proactive, stating that despite current market fluctuations, he continues forward contracting grain to secure profitable levels, but acknowledges that nothing is certain until the harvest is complete.

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Crop Protection Still a Priority

Even with strong stands and healthy crops, Schroeder emphasized the importance of continuing planned crop protection strategies, especially fungicide applications.

We’re going to spray everything with fungicide, he said. “We usually do that, and we’re going to do that again this year.”

While crop health currently remains good, Schroeder noted the importance of vigilance in scouting for any potential disease or pest threats, particularly if weather patterns remain dry climate farming.

“We see a little iron chlorosis in the beans, some yellowing in low spots,” Schroeder explained, but added that these concerns were manageable. “Usually, drainage is an answer for that. These areas we do tile, but it still rears its head from time to time.”

Overall, however, his corn fields have shown strong health with plants maintaining a deep green color from top to bottom despite limited moisture.

Looking ahead, Schroeder hopes for additional rain but remains cautiously optimistic about the overall crop performance for the remainder of the growing season.

“We’ve got some more rain chances this week and a little bit cooler temperatures. So, we’re OK,” he reiterated, “but I would sure like to see what too much rain looks like.”

As the summer progresses, Schroeder said he’ll continue monitoring fields closely, adjusting his approach based on crop adaptation to drought needs and weather conditions.

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Regardless of what the rest of the season holds, Schroeder remains committed to maximizing the potential of this year’s crop through careful management and protective practices.