Many Illinois farmers got a late start, but crops are holding their own mid-season.

While precipitation came in excess in April and May, the faucets shut off in many areas once plants emerged. Despite some recent rains, dry weather is the concern.

Throughout July, drought has been growing in Missouri, as hot, sunny, breezy days have dried out fields and pastures while rains have been fairly spotty and localized, if they show up at all.

Will Spargo farms in Butler and Ripley counties in southeast Missouri, and he says his area is dealing with a long-term lack of rain.

Although storms rolled through the northern portion of Iowa in early July, dry conditions persist in parts of the state. With hot, dry weather expected for the rest of the month, Iowa’s fields could see some stress in the upcoming weeks.

Lauren Botine, a Channel technical agronomist based in western Iowa, said the northwestern part of the state is still dealing with extreme drought after the storms came through. Heavy winds created some damage there.

A wet spring created a late planting season for many in the Midwest. Those conditions are optimal for disease growth, and it has shown up across much of the region.

Iowa State University plant pathologist Darren Mueller said those early rains left seedlings in a tough spot to start, but that isn’t the only thing to monitor. Even if moisture has been at a minimum, if the weather has stayed humid, make sure to scout for disease.

Editor’s note: The following was written by Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension crop production specialist, for the university’s crop development Bulletin website.

Soybeans that were planted around mid-May have grown more slowly than expected this year, although that is beginning to be corrected in areas where at least an inch of rain fell in June.