Click the large green dots on the interactive map to see reports from this week, with the larger orange dots showing last week’s comments. Note that the map may need to be refreshed to display all the locations.

The beauty of 2016 crops remains in the eye of the beholder. Growers rating crops this week offered widely varying assessments about how their fields are faring as the growing season begins to wind down across the Midwest.

Farmers reporting Feedback From The Field overall gave their crops strong marks, though still not as good as assessments by USDA in its weekly condition ratings. But generally these producers said yield potential was either very good or very bad.

“Corn yield should average 185 for 1,300 acres of corn,” said a producer west of St. Louis in Illinois, which USDA said could harvest record yields this fall. Other Illinois farmers said their crops were also in good to excellent shape as well.

But tip back from excessive heat remains an issue across the Midwest this year, one of several weather question marks hanging over the crop.

“Corn fields look really good from the road, but there is some tip back in almost every field,“ said another Illinois grower  who farms near Macomb in the western part of the state. “The kernel count is still high. Final yield will depend upon test weight.”

The eastern Corn Belt is still ground zero for problems, though USDA forecast good yields nonetheless for Ohio. Farmers there aren’t buying that optimism, however.

Click the large green dots on the interactive map to see reports from this week, with the larger orange dots showing last week’s comments. Note that the map may need to be refreshed to display all the locations. Those reporting this week said fields were in poor or very poor condition.

“Rain too late for corn,” said a farmer there near the Indiana border.  “May help soybeans.  Grass totally dormant.  Alfalfa fields suffering both in production and stand.”

Conditions generally are good in the western Midwest, but there are still problems with dry weather in some areas after a very warm summer.

“Need rain,” summed up a producer in Nebraska. “Some parts of southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa had significant rain Aug.  12, but there have only been small showers here the last four weeks.  Corn starting to show signs of maturity (too early) and disease from recent moisture stress.”

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Feedback from the Field - Aug. 12, 2016 - Growers less optimistic about corn crop this week

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 8, 2016 - Farmers say corn crop looks average, not great

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 3, 2016 - Farmers say don't judge the crop from the road

Feedback from the Field - Aug. 1, 2016 - Growers sound more optimistic about crops

Feedback from the Field - July 25, 2016 - Corn, soybean crops improve despite blast of heat

Feedback from the Field - July 20, 2016 - Heat backs West, but growers in East are worried

Feedback from the Field - July 18, 2016 - Growers report boom or bust conditions ahead of heat wave

Feedback from the Field - July 11, 2016 - Rains help improve corn and soybean conditions as heat wave approaches

Feedback from the Field - June 30, 2016 - Crop conditions ease as corn enters crucial test

Feedback from the Field - June 27, 2016 - Many areas still short of rain

Feedback from the Field - June 17, 2016 - Wheat looks great, but corn and soybeans start to wilt in the heat

Feedback from the Field - June 13, 2016 - Crops off to good start, but need rain

Feedback from the Field - June 8, 2016 - Growers say heat will help some crops, hurt others.

Feedback from the Field - June 6, 2016 - Crops improve, but growers see too much or too little rain

Feedback from the Field - May 31, 2016 - Corn slowly improves ahead of first USDA ratings

Feedback from the Field - May 25, 2016 - Goldilocks spring hard to find in Corn Belt

Feedback from the Field - May 23, 2016 - Corn Belt dries out a little as mid-May deadline arrives

Feedback from the Field - May 18, 2016 - Growers worry about frost damage from weekend's chill

Feedback from the Field - May 14, 2016 - Growers hope to get back into the field

Feedback from the Field - May 13, 2016 - Planting delays grab market's attention

Feedback from the Field - May 11, 2016 - It's deju vu all over again as wet weather continues

Feedback from the Field - May 9, 2016 - Weather challenges farmers in eastern Midwest

Feedback from the Field - May 3, 2016 - Growers say wet weather stalls planting

Feedback from the Field - May 2, 2016 - Some crops off to slow start as wet and cold hamper planting