August 18 - 21
Start: Sioux Falls, SD◆
Day 1: Grand Island, NE
Day 2: Nebraska City, NE
Day 3: Spencer, IA
Day 4: Rochester, MN
Corn
Early-planted corn had more uniform stands due to better soil moisture and temperature. (South-Central Nebraska)
Soybeans
Overall crop condition is good, but due to excessive moisture, they’re starting to go backward in areas with more rainfall or poor drainage. (Northwest Iowa)
(Reports from area Pioneer agronomists)
South-Central NE: June and early July winds caused varying degrees of root lodging. Most plants recovered. A degree of stress remains.
Southeast NE: Rainfall has put corn in excellent condition up though the first days of August with minimal stress.
Northwest IA: Corn planting started with ideal soil conditions in early April.
Southeast MN: To date there has been minimal stress on corn. Rains have been very consistent. Moisture stress has not been observed.
Learn MoreSouth-Central NE: Corn planted from April 15 to May 5 is reaching R4.
Southeast NE: Corn ranges from R3.5-R5.
Northwest IA: By August 1 corn ranged from R2-R3 with most soybeans at R3-R4.
Southeast MN: Corn was planted at an optimum time under excellent conditions. Soybeans planted in mid-April encountered some chilling injury.
Learn MoreSouth-Central NE: Some areas experienced high pressure from corn rootworm. Dectes stem borer is present in soybeans.
Southeast NE: Tar spot appeared in corn toward the end of June. Spider mite pressure is much heavier than expected.
Northwest IA: Corn diseases are widespread this year. Soybean disease pressure has been relatively low. Root rot has been found in a few areas.
Southeast MN: Northern corn leaf blight was observed before or at plant tassels. Iron chlorosis showed up early. However Pioneer® brand Z Series Enlist E3 soybeans were top of class in handling the higher pH.
Learn MoreFrom Sioux Falls, SD to Grand Island, NE
August 18
Pioneer Leader - Kevin Keller
Field Agronomist
South Central NE
“Higher pressures of corn rootworm in some geographies. Seeing a rise in beetle counts among many fields. Something to consider moving into next year.”
Corn
Soybeans
Clean Z-Series soybeans - Kearney, NE.
Root lodging with strong winds - Minden, NE.
Bacterial leaf streak - Holdrege, NE.
Tar spot - Gibbon, NE.
Pioneer corn plot - Kearney, NE.
Delayed pollination skips; excellent kernel count - Axtell, NE.
Southern rust - Minden, NE.
From Grand Island, NE to Nebraska City, NE
August 19
Pioneer Leader - Mike Sheets
Field Agronomist
South Central NE
“Rainfall this year has put the crop in excellent condition through the first two weeks of August with minimal stress.” - Mike Sheets
Corn
Soybeans
Corn emergence was exceptional across a large footprint but setback in areas with heavy anhydrous burn from lack of rain at the start.
Anhydrous burn - July 7.
Corn tipback caused by lack of solar radiation on higher flex products hit hard around the first week of August as we got into milk stage.
Tip back - solar radiation loss
Spider mites were far more aggressive than expected.
Spider mites - July 7
The biggest concern right now is how much white mold will pressure soybeans. Conditions have been ideal for sporulation to occur toward the end of June through the first of July, paired with excessive moisture through July and the first of August.
White mold
Gall midge is moving much further south and west than in the past.
Gall midge – Elmwood, NE.
Optimum® AcreMax® Leptra® products continue to shine with a very aggressive increase in WBCW pressure moving east into areas previously not seen.
WBCW - Late in ear tips.
From Nebraska City, NE to Spencer, IA
August 20
Pioneer Leader - Ben Hinners
Sales Agronomist
Northwest IA
“Iron chlorosis showed up early this year but Pioneer® brand Z-Series Enlist E3® soybeans were top of class in handling the higher pH.”
Corn
Soybeans
The corn rating across northwest Iowa varies due to weather impact from hail, wind, and excess moisture. There is still a lot of potential left in this corn crop in areas that weren’t impacted.
Diseases that are present include southern rust, gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and Goss's Wilt in corn fields.
Pest pressure in corn is corn rootworm and some WBC towards Sioux City, Iowa. Pioneer® brand Vorceed® Enlist® corn products have done an exceptional job in decreasing CRW pressure compared to other traits on the market.
Disease pressure has been relatively low so far except for root rots that set in due to saturated soils. Iron chlorosis showed up early this year but Z Series Enlist E3 soybeans were top of class in handling the higher pH.
Pest pressure has been minimal with aphids starting to show up later in the season.
From Spencer, 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.”
Corn
Soybeans
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 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.
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