Eric Weuve is a farm business management specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach based in Ames. He farms with his parents, Wayne and Cathy, overseeing 600 acres of corn and soybeans in a row crop operation in Story County near McCallsburg and Zearing. 

The area received over 6 inches of rain in April so far. My rain gauge only hit about 1.25 inches last week. Bad storms moved east and and south around the area, so no major damage reported. We saw a few planters out in fields on the way to the FFA convention in Ames. We hope by mid-week to start on corn; soybeans will be planted later. My target plant date was April 20, so we’re still close if we can get it done in the next couple of days.

We were finally able to get back into the field earlier in the week. Our spring fertilizer was applied, we were able to get our preplant 32% applied and begin fieldwork ahead of planting. I received 1.11 inches of rain on Thursday night and another 0.96 of an inch Sunday night into Monday with more expected. We did look at planting some corn Sunday afternoon ahead of the rain, but the conditions were still a little too wet, and I was worried about sidewall compaction in the seed trench. Neighbors began planting both corn and soybeans in the area earlier in the week. When conditions are fit after today's rain we will be hitting it hard.

We received 1.11 inches of rain April 27. The cool, cloudy weather meant that we dried out very slow. Friday, we were able to start planting corn on ground that was worked ahead of the rain. Throughout the weekend field conditions continued to improve. A lot of activity in the neighborhood over the weekend between planting corn, beans, working ground and spraying. We should finish our last two fields of corn today (May 4) and get switched over to beans right away.

We had a very productive week. Field conditions continued to improve each day, and everyone took advantage of it. We were able to finish corn on Monday and moved straight into planting soybeans. We were able to get all the beans planted and rolled. I was able to get several of the fields sprayed and hoping to finish the last two on Monday. Most of the neighbors were also able to wrap up planting of their commercial corn and soybeans. The only fields in our area that are not planted yet will likely go into seed production. Some of the corn and soybeans that were planted prior to our last rains have started to emerge and can be rowed. I did see several fields that were rotary hoed. Some fields were experiencing up to an inch of crust.

A good week weatherwise. The warm temperatures were just what we needed. All of my corn fields have started to emerge, with my first corn field at V1 to V2. With the half inch of rain that I received between Friday and Saturday, the soybeans have started to emerge as well at VE. We began cleaning equipment from spring and evaluating plant stands as the crops emerged. This coming week, I hope to get to spraying first-pass corn once the field conditions get fit following this rain. Spraying fence rows is also on this week’s list to accomplish.

Monday and Tuesday storms provided more rain — just over 2 inches total for the weekend — but thankfully no other weather events like some throughout north-central Iowa. The temperatures certainly cooled down and slowed the crop growth. Corn is continuing to grow well, moving into V3, and we have really good plant stands. The soybean emergence continues, and the cool temperatures this week have not allowed the beans to grow. Most fields are still at VE to V1. Applying first-pass corn herbicide is still on the list to do next along with fence-row spraying. We will have a few places in the soybean fields to patch in some replants.

The heat we received since Memorial Day weekend has certainly been welcomed. The corn has responded very well, with all fields in V4 and not far from moving into V5. The soybeans are also growing well with the second trifoliate forming. We were able to patch in a few spots in the soybean fields that needed it, spray first pass on corn and begin fence row spraying. We have variable-rate nitrogen sidedressed on half of our corn and plan to complete the remaining fields in the coming week. I continue to scout for weeds in our corn fields, which are still showing minimal weed pressure. I received about 0.25 inch of rain over the weekend.

We received anywhere from 1 to just over 3 inches with the rain that moved in last week. Fortunately, we are not dealing with any surface water on any of our fields. There is some minor ponding in some fields in the neighborhood. Our heaviest rain came Thursday night. The rain was certainly welcomed, and the crops responded accordingly. The seed that we patched in a couple of weeks ago has emerged well. Our corn is at V6, soon to move into V7. Our soybeans have two trifoliate leaves and the third is forming. We have not been able to complete our side dressing, but I anticipate it being completed very soon.

Last week we received additional rainfall, another 1.5 to 2.75 inches, so all fields have received over 4 inches in the last 10 days. The first front also brought some damaging winds and hail in some neighboring fields. The wind did cause some green snap in the corn and laid a lot of corn flat. Most of the laid-down corn has stood back up. We were able to post spray the corn between the rains along with corn finding the additional nitrogen and really starting to grow, entering V8 to V9.

Our corn continues to do well, entering V10 to V11. The weather has continued to bring some challenges, receiving an additional 3 inches of rain last week over the course of Wednesday morning. The field ponds refilled on this rain event and will cause some crop loss. Our soybeans have begun to flower but show some signs of stress due to excess moisture. When field conditions become fit, I will begin to post spray the soybeans. My pumpkin crop is also off to a good start. With three different plantings, most of the 26 hills are growing and doing well.

There was not much activity in the field this week. The field ponds dried up from the additional rains from last week. We did lose some crop on this excessive rainfall, so I do plan on replanting a few spots over the next couple of days. Our corn crop is looking good — all the fields have found their side-dressed nitrogen and have gone into growth mode. The soybeans show signs of stress from the excess moisture we have received in our area.

The crops in our area did well given the intense heat earlier last week. Some corn in our neighborhood is beginning to show tassels and should be fully tasseled by this time next week. I recorded 5.78 inches of rain from Thursday afternoon through Saturday, so once again the ponds have filled back up. There was some hail in the neighborhood, but it does not appear that any of my fields were impacted. Those impacted showed some torn leaves in the upper canopy.

The fields in my area continue to look pretty good considering the heat that we have endured. Several corn fields are now fully tasseled, and more tassels develop each day. Soybeans are progressing along as well. I did notice a few spray planes and spray drones over the weekend begin applying fungicide to corn fields. I have not noticed any significant disease present in my fields.

The corn in our area, including all our fields, is fully tasseled and still looking pretty good. I still have not seen much of any disease pressure out there. The soybeans are showing some stress from the excessive rain of a few weeks ago with yellowing in areas of heavy soil followed by the excessive heat over the last week and no rainfall. Seed corn fields in the area are starting to see some activity with machines out wheel-pulling and cutting tassels and a few crews here and there. I am continuing to monitor my corn fields to decide when to pull the trigger on applying fungicides.

Another eventful weather week in Central Iowa. Last Monday evening (July 20), storms rolled through producing anywhere from 2.6 to 3 inches of rain across our fields. Thankfully no hail, although there was some sizeable hail and strong winds reported not too far away. We also received another 0.25 inches of rain on Friday morning, which is always welcome in July. I have noticed an increase in fungicide application, and my corn should be sprayed this week. Our corn and soybeans are continuing to develop at a nice pace.

This past week has been quite good for crop growth. The excessive heat gave way to slightly cooler temperatures and we received about 1.5 inches of total rain in two events. My corn fungicide was sprayed this morning (Aug. 3), and several soybean fields are also receiving treatment. Disease pressure remains low across most fields. My pumpkin patch is beginning to bloom, so my pumpkin crop is also starting to take shape.

Crops continue to develop. We have had heavy dew and even fog several mornings this past week. We received another 0.8 to 1 inch of rain during the week but did not receive any of the strong storms or damage that other parts of the state received. I have heard multiple people discussing pollination issues in their corn. I went and did a small sampling in our fields, and our pollination did not seem to have any issues, and the ears I looked at were pollinated out to the tip. As of right now, I think our crop is shaping up to be fairly solid this fall. Dad and I were able to enjoy the Iowa Corn 350 in Newton this past weekend.

Central Iowa continued to receive more rain this past week, with three rainfall events and over 1.5 inches recorded. Our corn continues to look solid. I have not noticed any pollination issues in our fields, but I do hear people have noticed some around central Iowa. Our soybeans also are progressing. I have not completed a pod count, but there appears to be very solid podding up and down the stems. These rains should have a positive impact as they continue to fill out.

We received 0 inches of rain this week and were able to dry out a bit. It was nice to have the moisture during pod fill on our soybeans. The fields I have been out in look relatively good. The plants have a lot of pods, with most pods having at least three beans developing. I have noticed some SDS showing up as I drive around the countryside along with some fields north of us that have had recent wind damage. Our corn continues to progress nicely, and I still have not noticed much of any pollination issues in our fields. This week we’ll turn our attention to servicing harvest equipment!

Our crop maturity is beginning to show signs of reaching the final stages. Soybean fields are beginning the changing of colors, along with some SDS showing up, and pod development is continuing. Corn kernel development is continuing, and plants are beginning to show the effects of dry-down. A yield estimate this past week estimates one corn field above the APH level, confirming my beliefs that we have a solid yield at this point. We did receive about a half inch of rain over the weekend.