Drew DeSutter farms with his dad Jim, uncle Randy and cousin Matthew in Knox, Mercer and Henry counties. He returned to the farm after graduating from the University of Illinois in 2009 with a degree in ag business and farm management. The family follows a 50-50 corn-soybean rotation and has been using no-till for 30 years. DeSutter also has a few cows and puts up hay in the summer. He and his wife, Adrienne, have four children and live in New Windsor. He is active in the Knox County Farm Bureau.

In my immediate area, there hasn’t been much fieldwork accomplished so far in April. Some of our farms have already seen around 6 inches of rain this month. A little burndown has been applied but not much. If the forecast holds, this week could finally allow a lot of equipment to get rolling. We’ve been spoiled the last few springs with plenty of time and ideal conditions, but this year feels more like a typical spring. I’ve already mowed my yard three times — and it needs it again. At least the moisture is good for cattle pastures.

This week lived up to expectations — fast, busy and full of progress. Sprayers were running hard, and both corn and soybeans went in across the area. Ground conditions weren’t quite as ideal as the past couple of years, but those seasons spoiled us. Even so, soils shaped up reasonably well, especially as the week wrapped up. Looking ahead, there’s a good chance of rain in the coming days. Ideally it stays on the lighter side and temperatures hold steady so the crop can keep moving in the right direction.

It’s been a slow start to the week after the weekend’s rain and cooler temperatures. Corn planted before April 21 emerged quickly thanks to the warm soil conditions, but it could really use some sunshine and heat to keep moving. Most of the area’s soybeans are in the ground, and corn planting is a mixed bag. Some farmers are pushing ahead while others are waiting out these lingering cold snaps.

Spotty showers slowed things down mid‑week, but field activity picked up again and the area finished strong toward the end of the week. Emerged corn is moving slowly, though the warmer temperatures heading into the weekend gave it a much‑needed push. Soybeans are starting to show as well, even if they’re tough to pick out early with residue still covering the rows. The forecast looks excellent for the coming week, with warm, stable weather that should help both crops advance.

Warm temperatures and a couple of timely rains over the weekend gave the crops a nice boost. Both corn and soybeans are gaining height and showing a healthy green color. Populations look solid overall, though it seems like everyone has at least one field they’ve double‑checked.

It was a fairly slow week following the weekend rains and the cooler stretch midweek. Most of the April‑planted corn is sitting around the V4 stage, and the May‑planted soybeans have emerged quickly — you can row them easily from the road. I’d expect to see a lot of post‑spraying happening next week. I’ve heard a few people have already started chopping hay, and if the forecast stays dry, next week should shape up to be a strong hay‑making window as well.

Hot and dry conditions dominated the week in our area. A significant amount of post‑spraying was completed, and a few soybean fields were spotted in for replant. Some of the 15‑inch beans on lighter soils didn’t achieve the stand farmers were hoping for, but overall, the crops look solid. Corn has entered that awkward mid‑growth stage where certain fields appear stronger than others. Weather has been ideal for haymaking, and while a rain this weekend would certainly be welcome, these early‑June dry stretches usually work out fine — so long as July brings timely moisture.

The crops held up well through the hot, dry stretch early in the week and were rewarded with some much‑needed rain over the weekend. Totals were extremely spotty across the area. A few farms picked up 4-5 inches, while others saw only sprinkles to a half inch. The places that caught the full 5 inches were a sharp reminder of why waterways exist and how important they can be.

Off‑and‑on rain showers paired with hot, muggy weather summed up the past week. Some fields took on far too much water (9 inches or more in seven days) and could really use a break, but at least none of the storms brought the high winds that were originally forecast. Once things finally dry out, post‑spraying beans will jump to the top of the list, as the weeds have taken full advantage of these warm, wet conditions.

On-and-off rain showers have continued throughout the week. Soybean fields were sprayed in between rains — not ideal conditions, but the waterhemp and overall weed pressure has reached the point where something had to be done. One of the apps I follow shows a field with over 16 inches of rain for the month so far. Overall, the corn in the immediate area looks fairly good, though some problem spots are starting to show. Soybeans are handling the excess moisture much worse, with yellowing and drowned-out areas becoming more noticeable. I think the amount of rain we’ve had will have a bigger impact on yields than most people expect, but time will tell.

The area finally dried out enough toward the end of the week to get into some bean fields for post spraying. Most of the corn is still handling the excess moisture better than the beans. I’ve heard a few reports of tar spot showing up, though I haven’t seen any myself. The forecasted heat will push corn development along quickly. I also expect a lot of cattle producers will be trying to get some hay put up since there have been very few workable windows so far.

This week’s highs in the upper 80s will feel almost like fall compared to the heat we just came through. A few storms rolled through and brought some wind. Isolated pockets showed a little snap in the corn, but nothing widespread. We’re getting very close to tassel, and I’d guess by the next report a lot of fungicide applications will be underway. I haven’t seen any disease yet, which is surprising given the conditions. Hopefully everyone had a safe and memorable 4th.

The crops had a fairly uneventful week. The corn is pollinating, and fungicide applications are being flown on. Disease pressure remains low overall, with only a little gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight showing up. A stretch of hot weather is ahead, and rainfall chances look limited, so the crops will be under increasing moisture demand as we move through pollination.

Recently weather has stayed warm and muggy, moving crops along steadily. Field activity continues as needed, and occasional spotty showers have been the main source of moisture. A shift toward more comfortable temperatures is expected soon, which should help ease overall crop stress.

A very pleasant weather week brought cooler temperatures that were welcomed as the crop continues to fill. We’ve been in a dry pattern for most of July, but the grass has stayed green, and both corn and beans remain mostly stress‑free. In most of my years of farming, this is the point in the season when I’m the most optimistic about yield potential. Everything looks good, the crop is cruising, and the fields have that “big promise” feel. But experience also reminds me that August has a way of revealing the flaws, even if minor.

We needed a rain to help finish out the crops, and we ended up getting a very welcome 2-3 inches over a couple days. The past few years have forced us to watch the crop somewhat struggle to finish through August, but this forecast of wetter, cooler conditions should help give it the push it needs to cross the finish line. The markets seemed to take notice of that shift last week.

Another half inch to three‑quarters of an inch of rain fell this past week, and overall, it was a really nice stretch of weather. Disease pressure remains low, with gray leaf spot being the main issue showing up in corn. I’ve heard of aphids in the area, but reports seem scattered and inconsistent. Soybeans continue to set a lot of pods and look very promising. Corn is harder to pin down — ear size varies quite a bit across fields. Some ears make you think it’s going to be a bin‑buster, while others look noticeably short. Even with that variability, kernel depth looks good, and with the current weather pattern for grain fill, I’d expect kernel weight to be strong.

We picked up as much as 9.5 inches across a lot of our crop ground over the past week. For perspective, the Amazon rainforest averages 60-120 inches of rain annually, and one of my farms is already sitting at 66 inches over the past 365 days. A few farms in the area saw gusty winds strong enough to snap plants. Bottom ground flooded, and the waterways are doing exactly what they’re designed to do. What all this excessive rain and humidity means for a crop this late in the season is still an open question, but we’re about to find out.