A spotty corn and soybean outlook across the Midwest was the general feeling among farmers and researchers who attended the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) held last week. Carol Brown, environmental communications specialist with Iowa Soybean Association, offered these comments from staff and farmers.

Linda Kull (staff), Illinois: Crops were ahead of schedule through July, but now are about 10 percent off from last year. We could use rain now. The crops in the southern part of the state look good, some of the best we’ve seen. Producers planted corn early and got hurt with the early heat. The soybean crop is excellent. 

Ariel Kittle (staff), Indiana: The state had a slow start to the growing season. We didn’t seem to have a spring, with temperatures going from cold directly to hot. We are in desperate need of rain now with areas of burnout in the state. 

Tom Adam (farmer), Iowa: Southern Iowa has been very dry and northern Iowa has been swamped. Where I’m at in southeast Iowa, we’re sitting pretty good. Central Iowa needs rain desperately now.

Ron Ohlde (farmer), Kansas: We were exceptionally dry all spring, but planting conditions for wheat were good. We also didn’t seem to have a spring season, going from cold to hot temperatures. Western Kansas has had good rains but also bad storms. Southern and eastern Kansas have been very dry or spotty. Soybean conditions are over the place, very spotty. 

Mark Seaman (staff), Michigan: The crops had a tough start in the spring with areas of the state receiving 13 inches of snow, then 5 inches of rain. We’re still trying to get over this. We’ve had a lot of prevent-planting. There is moderate drought in the state now and the northern part is even drier. We’re not expecting a bumper crop. 

Cecil Demott (farmer), Missouri: Crops are two weeks ahead of previous years. There were timely rains, especially in the bootheel area where crops are in very good shape. The north-central portion of the state is dry and northwest even drier. Central Missouri had the hottest May on record and pastures here are in terrible shape.

Larry Tonniges (farmer), Nebraska: It was dry early this spring and the planted corn just sat there, not able to get going. There have been several areas wiped out from summer storms. The soybeans are looking the best of all the crops right now. We are testing for soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) across the state now. 

Kendall Nichols (staff), North Dakota: North Dakota got a late start, receiving 18 inches of snow in April. Since then we received plenty of moisture at the right time. The state is down 300,000 acres of soybeans this growing season, bringing total soy acres to 6.8 million.  We are two to three weeks ahead on all crops. Small grain harvest will be wrapped up next week. 

Tom Fontana (staff), Ohio: Weather extremes have been the issue where there is no such thing as a normal rain. Planting began in mid-April; the spring was cold and then the temperatures went straight to summer. The crops look really good in some areas and not as good in others. 

Craig Converse (farmer), South Dakota: The state is a tale of two worlds from excessively wet to quite dry. The crops seem to be going backwards now. Although, the corn crop should be record-setting. There are low areas where the soybeans are struggling.

Mike Cerny (farmer), Wisconsin: The crops in the state are looking good. Corn and beans were planted by the end of May. So far, it has been a stress-free season.

The North Central Soybean Research Program, a collaboration of 12 state soybean associations, invests soybean checkoff funds to improve yields and profitability via university research and extension.

Carol Brown can be reached at [email protected]