Live Coverage: Pro Farmer Crop Tour turns spotlight on Illinois and western Iowa

Key Points:

• Crop tours in Illinois and Iowa report corn yields averaging between 173.9 and 203.3 bushels per acre, with soybean pod counts ranging widely but generally showing potential for filling out upper pods despite disease pressures.
• Illinois corn crops face nitrogen deficiency and disease challenges such as rust, northern leaf blight, and bacterial leaf blight, while soybeans exhibit sudden death syndrome and some white mold, though many fields remain average to better-than-average.
• Iowa's corn shows consistent maturity with some wind damage and shorter grain length; soybean crops are affected by white mold and sudden death syndrome due to wet conditions, but weed and insect issues remain limited.
• Western Iowa reports corn yields about 5% below last year, with good ear counts but shorter ear lengths and kernel counts, while soybean crops appear healthy with strong pod counts and good weed control, despite some brown stem rot presence.
• The Pro Farmer Crop Tour's large sample size enhances the reliability of yield estimates compared to USDA surveys, with scouts having collected over 700 corn and soybean samples at the halfway point, supporting statistically credible yield projections.