Tom is a co-owner of Leeper Family Farms LLC in Decatur, Macon County. They raise corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. Tom farms with his son Evan Leeper and son-in-law Nate Doty. Tom has a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science-Agronomy from Illinois State University. He is a CCA and sells seed for Wyffels and Brevant. He also raises cattle for his freezer beef business.

Our area experienced wonderful planting conditions the week of April 14. Since then, however, we have dodged rain showers. Planting resumed this past weekend as we hope to have the majority of acres in before the next rain event forecasted for the middle of the week. Best guess is 40% of corn planted and 70% of beans sowed for the area.

Field work accelerated early last week as soils dried. With the threat of rain for midweek, planters were going everywhere. We managed to get 80% of our corn in the ground during the Sunday through Wednesday time period. Crops planted the week of April 14 have emerged and are looking good. This past weekend we received 1.7 inches of rain, which will slow fieldwork for most of this week. It will be time to catch up on planter maintenance and be ready to go for the next dry opportunity.

Most of the past week was spent waiting on the ground to dry out and conditions to improve. Planters returned to the fields by the weekend to finish up corn and bean seeding. Early-planted crops look good. Some corn put in before the rain last week was being hoed due to crusting. We wrapped up planting and look forward to getting hay down this week.

We have been fortunate to avoid the worst of the storm activity that has plagued the southern part of our state. I feel for those folks as they work to get their crops in and clean up from the damage. Most of the planting here is wrapping up, and crops continue to emerge with good stands. Activities include post-spraying corn, baling hay and side-dressing nitrogen, all as weather permits. Be safe, everyone!

Crops continue to progress nicely, although we have caught a bit of a cold snap lately. Heat units decreased from 20s to single-digit gains for a few days. We received about 1.10 inches of rain this past weekend as well. The forecast is for warmer days ahead, which will allow for more post spraying of herbicides and nitrogen application and hay mowing.

Cool temps hung around for the first part of the week and a rain shower came through on Tuesday to delay field operations. By the end of this week we were in the upper 70s and low 80s which allowed for post spraying of crops, hay mowing and nitrogen application. With these conditions crops will really pop now! We have been well pleased with the performance of our pre-emergence herbicides this spring. Could we be on top of our waterhemp pressure? Time will tell!

The past week started out busy, as we moved quickly to finish up baling the first crop of hay and our nitrogen side-dressing. By the middle of the week, though, field activities came to a halt as rain set in. By Sunday we had received 3.5 inches. The ground took it pretty well. However, some ponding has occurred. Rain makes grain, and grain markets look dismal at this point.

We have moved into an unsettled weather pattern the past couple of weeks. Rain totals have varied, but here on our farm at Decatur we’ve received 4.2 inches of rain over the last 10 days. We did get two days last week to get some more beans sprayed. We’re hoping the Liberty with residual herbicide is enough to keep the waterhemp at bay. The rainfall will definitely get the herbicide activated. We have soybeans blooming, which is where we want them to be as we approach the first day of summer.

Summer has come in with a vengeance as temps have climbed into the mid 90s. Some dry weather is welcome at this time to help the crop get rooted, although we won’t want moisture to stay away for long! Most fields have had post-emergent herbicides applied now. We look to get caught up on haymaking and get set to cut wheat during this window of dry weather.

Temperatures have turned hot, hot, hot this past week! Highs in the mid 90s have stressed the crops somewhat, but we’re still in good shape moisture-wise. We have seen tremendous plant growth due to daily heat unit accumulations in the 30s. The corn has really grown quickly! We finished most of our second cutting of hay and have made good progress on cutting wheat, with yields coming in much above average. Be safe in the heat, everyone!

Corn is tasseling and has not shown effects of heat stress at this point. Subsoil moisture is good, so this will help hold the crop on for a while. Wheat harvest is wrapped up with excellent yields. Double-crop beans have been sowed as well. Road mowing and hay making has occupied our time lately. Next week has several opportunities for showers which would be welcome at this point.

The hot, dry weather has persisted this past week, although we have caught a few pop-up showers that have been beneficial. South and east of us caught as much as 4-plus inches of rain, but in our area we were limited to 1.2. Crops look good at this point. Corn is pollinating and fungicide is being applied. We are wrapping up the second cutting of hay. Markets are reacting as if a bumper crop has been produced already.

“Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime” is an appropriate tune as we’ve had high temperatures and lots of humidity! There have been pop-up showers which have helped, then over the weekend we picked up a 3-inch rain. This sets the corn crop well on its way to filling ears. Fungicide applications on corn are widespread, and fields of soybeans are getting sprayed as well. Hay mowing has come to a standstill due to the weather conditions. Activities include spraying field borders and checking rain gauges

It’s been another hot, humid and gooey week here in central Illinois. There have been intermittent showers, though, to keep this crop moving forward. With these conditions comes the possibility of disease presence in corn and beans. I believe fungicide applications will pay back this year. Hay-making has been at a standstill as we await drier weather. The forecast shows that may happen by the end of the week as a cold front is poised to move through and bring a more comfortable environment.

Finally, a cold front moved through to pull the heat and humidity out of the air and make for much more comfortable conditions. Fortunately, no severe storms accompanied the passing; instead, we ended up with showers and an inch of rain. This actually put us above average for rainfall in July, thus relieving any drought conditions in our area. After some vacation time we’re back at baling hay and mowing roadsides. We’re not seeing any disease pressure in either corn or beans at this time. Markets are soft, fully expecting the large crop that appears to be coming.

The war on waterhemp has all but ended for this year except for some hand-to-hand combat of hoe versus weed. Overall, I’ve been pleased with herbicide control, but improvements can always be made. We continue to watch crops head toward maturity. Some SDS is showing up in the beans, but at this stage I don’t believe it will be significant. Hay making has caught up for the most part. Take time to head to Springfield and check out the State Fair!

You can usually count on a rain during the State Fair and this year didn’t disappoint. Rain fell in Springfield, but at least there were no storms. The Decatur area picked up substantial rainfall to the tune of 3 inches. This was somewhat isolated in amount though. I’m beginning to see the first signs of crops maturing. Disease pressure is limited, and crop size appears large. These recent rains could hold things on a little longer.

Cooler weather has moved in, which is a big change from what we’ve had. This should help the corn add some dry matter to finish out. Southern rust has made its appearance here, but the earlier planted corn is past the stage for fungicide application. Some early maturity beans are starting to show a bit of change in color.

This week has been filled with Farm Progress Show activities! Our farm hosted some folks from Spain and France of the Quality Corn Group. They contract corn for popcorn, roasted corn, corn for nachos and semolina. We also took in the show and worked in a food tent too. The weather was outstanding! Crops continue to march towards harvest. I expect work to begin within two weeks. Farmers I’ve talked to from different areas of the Corn Belt can’t see how the predicted national corn yield can match the forecasted number from the USDA due to August dryness and disease pressure. Only time will tell.

Cool, dry weather continues to dominate our weather pattern at this time. Toward the end of this coming week warm air will return though. The harvest is right around the corner as we are preparing to cut our first beans later this week. Corn is drying out, but moisture is still in the mid to upper 20s. Activity will accelerate soon if the dry weather continues.

Harvest has started here in Central Illinois! It’s been rather slow as corn moistures have hovered in the mid to upper 20s. However, with the current heat and drought conditions, corn will continue to dry rapidly. We’ve started beans, and we are well pleased with yields at this point, although moisture is running around 10%. Be safe, everyone!

Harvest is in full swing now as many bean varieties have matured and corn moistures have declined. We have been happy with yields to date. We are 25% completed with harvest as the dry weather has let us move along well. However, this next week appears to be wet. I can sense the seasons changing! Enjoy the bounty of your hard work and be safe!

After a wet beginning of the week, harvest has resumed with full force. Drought conditions persist even with the rainfall which totaled more than 2 inches. Crops are maturing rapidly, and grain moisture is declining. Yields have varied depending on topography and rainfall. Everyone is hoping that we’ll see better prices post-harvest. Be safe out there!

Harvest continues to roll on with these dry conditions. My biggest concern at this point are field fires. With the low humidity and breezy south winds, it’s the perfect recipe for fire potential. Please blow your equipment off at the end of each day and keep fire extinguishers current. We have finished beans with excellent yields. Corn yields are impressive too. Be safe, everyone!

Harvest continues at a rapid pace here in central Illinois. Dry conditions persist, and our drought rating has intensified. Most soybeans have been cut, and corn is probably 50% harvested. We sowed our winter wheat last week with the saying in mind “Plant in the dust, bins will bust!” Time will tell!

Harvest continues to grind along, and the end is near. Soybeans in our area are 90% done, and corn is approaching 75% finished. Yields have varied in both corn and beans. Fungicide made a difference this year on the plus side. Fall fertilizer is being applied and tillage has begun. Farmers are hoping for a rally in commodity prices to offset these input costs.

We wrapped up harvest this past week by cutting our double-crop beans. Overall, we were happy with yields of corn and beans. The year had its share of ups and downs but in the end we were blessed. Now our focus has turned to fall fertilization and tillage and making decisions as we prepare for the 2026 crop.

Harvest in our area has wrapped up for the most part. Tillage and anhydrous application are taking priority now. I change caps and spend time on seed sales now. I also have another group of calves coming this week as a part of my freezer beef business. There is always something happening on the farm!

As this crop season wraps up there is much to be thankful for as we turn the calendar toward next year. Though commodity prices have struggled we were blessed with an above-average crop. Also, our family has another grandchild on the way. Always try to find the positives in what you do. It makes everything go a little better.