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Eastern Route
August 18 - 21
Start: Columbus, OH◆
Day 1: Noblesville, IN
Day 2: Bloomington, IL
Day 3: Iowa City, IA
Day 4: Rochester, MN
- Eastern Route
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Crop Conditions
Corn
Residue management continues to be a hot topic and will carry over to 2026 plans. (Northern Illinois)
Soybeans
Planting depth challenges through fields with heavy residue levels. (South-Central Iowa)
Eastern Route Highlights
(Reports from area Pioneer agronomists)
Eastern Route Updates
- East Day 1
- East Day 2
- East Day 3
- East Day 4
Day 1 Stops
From Columbus, OH to Noblesville, IN
August 18
Pioneer Leader - Ben Jacob Field Agronomist
Noblesville, IN
X: @thebenjacob
“Excessive rainfall from April 1 through June 30 caused significant planting challenges for both corn and soybeans in the southern half of Indiana.”
Crop Conditions - Central Indiana
Corn
- Growth Stage: Corn ranges from V10 to R3 as of July 26.
- High nitrogen loss and limited root growth is causing lower leaves to fire in some fields.
- Disease: Gray leaf spot pressure continues to increase as heat and moisture persist.
Soybeans
- Planting environment: April and early May planted soybeans look good, in spite of thin stands and slow growth early.
- Much of the soybean crop was planted in late June and early July.
- Disease: Frogeye leaf spot pressure is increasing with consistent heat in moisture throughout July.
Root growth in both crops has been limited by excessive moisture. Timely rains will be key to the crop finishing well.
Continued moisture will also increase disease pressure in both crops.
Tar spot is present, but warm nighttime temperatures are preventing aggressive spread.
Tar spot – Rosedale, IN.
Southern rust was confirmed in the area on July 24.
If heat and moisture continue, late planted corn will need to be closely monitored.
Southern rust – July 25 – Terre Haute, IN.
Post planting flooding – Jasonville, IN.
Red crown rot is starting to show up.
Red crown rot – Rush County, IN.
More Crop Tour Days
Day 2 Stops
From Noblesville, IN to Bloomington, IL
August 19
Pioneer Leader - John Kultgen Field Agronomist
Northern Illinois
“The corn crop has an opportunity to finish strong & bring potentially high yield in most areas of northern IL.”
Crop Conditions - Northern Illinois
Corn
- Growing Stage: Crop stage as of August 1: R1-R3.
- The week of May 5th was a good week for planting progress, increased soil temperatures and speed of emergence.
- GDU’s have tracked above the 10 year average.
- Soil Moisture: Soil moisture levels were extremely dry and at the point of moderate drought up to July. Most areas received good volumes of rain during July.
- Disease: Disease protection from GLS, tar spot, and NCLB are top of mind.
- Southern rust has made its way farther north than in recent years.
- Crop Protection: Fungicides were applied during the last half of July into August.
- Insecticide was added in many cases where CRW adult beetle counts remain moderate to high in continuous corn rotations.
- Agronomic and environmental issues affected a few fields. Challenges included crop damage, late season disease, insects and overall weather patterns.
Soybeans
- Quite a few acres planted again in April during the same planting dates as corn.
- Early planted soybeans continue as a trend.
- As of August 1, many soybean fields are in the R3 stage.
- Soybeans need sun and moderate weather for pod fill this month. Weather conditions will drive yields.
- Growers are watching out for white mold and other foliar diseases. We will see how far red crown rot moves north.
Pioneer® brand Z-Series Enlist E3 soybean plot - Northern IL
Wheat Plot - DeKalb County, IL - July 1
Some areas of rainfall developed into storms, with wind and hail. The tradeoff was extra moisture during mid-season.
Hail damage - July 10 - Lee and Carroll counties, IL.
Pioneer Corn PKP plot - Carroll County, IL.
Planting dates in northern IL ranged from April 15th - May 15th with some delays in between.
Plot Planting - Northern IL. - April 2025
Overall pollination in northern IL was successful with some variations in initial kernal set.
Pollination 2025 - Northern IL.
Pollination 2025 - Northern IL.
Industry Spotlight: Corn Innovation
More Crop Tour Days
Day 3 Stops
From Bloomington, IL to Iowa City, IA
August 20
Pioneer Leader - Clarabell Probasco Field Agronomist
South Central IA
“Corn planting was off to a quick start in the April 10th – 17th window. The remainder of the planting season took place sporadically between rain events.”
Crop Conditions - South Central Iowa
Corn
- Growth Stage: Tasseling began around the last week of June and first week of July for early planted fields.
- Disease: Southern rust, gray leaf spot and tar spot pressure have ramped up in the last few weeks. Seeing more pressure from these than we have in recent years.
- The northern part of territory has seen more corn rootworm feeding pressure in rotated acres than normal.
Soybeans
- Planting Environment: Planting was off to a quick start just like the corn with many growers taking advantage of the early open windows in April.
- Planting depth challenges through fields with heavy residue levels.
- Stand Counts: Final stand levels were reduced to lower populations than normal. Many fields are ranging from 100,000 to 120,000 plants/acre.
- Weather: High amounts of rain accumulated throughout the territory in July. Fields in areas of higher precipitation are starting to yellow with moisture stress.
A cooler month in May with slow crop growth was followed by very warm June and July with rapid plant growth.
Beginning of mid-season growth vigor.
Fast growth showed a bit of tassel emergence after silking causing a few fields to have some spots on ears not pollinate well. The majority of these ears are now filling in nicely with little yield losses in most cases.
Light green leaves from rapid growth syndrome.
Pollination misses.
Southern rust.
Slow growth the months of April and May but great growth in June and July have fields looking very good.
Mid-season growth vigor.
Starting to see pockets of sudden death syndrome (SDS) pop up in fields across the countryside.
Sudden death syndrome.
Cotyledons struggled to pull through soil crusts, leading to snapping of some hypocotyls.
Broken hypocotyl from working to push through the soil crust.
CRW larvae and adults under soil surface during root dig in rotated crop field.
Industry Spotlight: Agronomy Innovation
More Crop Tour Days
Day 4 Final Stops
From Iowa City, IA to Rochester, MN
August 21
Pioneer Leader - Josh Shofner Field Agronomist
Southeast MN
X: @JoshShofner
“GDU accumulation and early growth were slow and inconsistent through the 3rd week of June. Rapid accumulations followed, and the crop was back on track by the second week of July.”
Crop Conditions - Southeast Minnesota
Corn
- Planting Environment: The corn crop was planted timely in excellent conditions across the area. Despite a few crusting challenges, stands and ear counts are solid across the region.
- Weather & GDUs: GDU accumulation and early growth were slow and inconsistent through the 3rd week of June. Rapid accumulations followed, and the crop was back on track maturity-wise by the second week of July.
- Growing Environment: To date, there has been minimal stress on the crop. Rains have been very consistent, and moisture stress has not been observed to date. A few isolated areas have experienced excess rain, leading to stress. This, paired with the GDU accumulation, had crop conditions looking excellent at the end of July.
- Good stands paired with favorable growing conditions lead to a robust crop canopy and plant height. This, combined with the favorable growing environment, leads to an enhanced level of disease risk.
Soybeans
- Planting Environment: Planting conditions were also good for soybeans. The early plant soybean trend continues to be more common each year. Mid-April-planted soybeans encountered some chilling injury and crusting challenges, necessitating supplemental replanting in certain instances.
- Growing Environment: As we rolled into May, planting dates, solid stands, and early growth were observed. Cooler conditions in early June slowed down soybean growth, just as they did with the corn. Excellent growing conditions from the 2nd week of June also led to a robust canopy and taller plants.
- Weather: A significant wind event in May led to a few residue and slug challenges due to the misplacement of corn stalk residue. Some patchy replant was needed in a few situations.
- Insects & Diseases: Soybean aphids were observed by late July in low levels, with a few fields needing treatment due to increasing populations.
- Conditions for white mold have been favorable, but not observed as of the end of July.
Northern corn leaf blight was observed before or at the plant tassel.
Northern corn leaf blight observed in July in Fillmore County, MN.
Tar spot, gray leaf spot, and common rust were commonly observed soon after NCLB. Disease will be the most significant issue down the stretch with the corn crop.
Tar spot observed in July in Olmstead County, MN.
A significant wind event in May led to a few residue and slug challenges due to the misplacement of corn stalk residue. Some patchy replant was needed in a few situations.
Residue accumulation following strong winds paired with slug damage in Fillmore County, MN.
Soybean aphids were observed by late July in low levels, with a few fields needing treatment due to increasing populations.
Soybean aphids observed in Mower County, MN.
Industry Spotlights
Pioneer® brand Z-Series Soybeans
Fungicide Timing & Water Reporter Tool
More Crop Tour Days
Social Media & Tools
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Our unmatched team of local professionals live and work in your community. They’re ready to help you select high-yielding products and provide year-round service and expertise. Have questions? Ask your local Pioneer sales representative today.