Rainfall and Drought

Rainfall Last 90 Days (click pictures to enlarge)

Drought Conditions in Illinois

Two information sources concerning long term weather conditions are National Weather Service rainfall maps and the US Drought Monitor a cooperative site maintained by the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  The areas of Illinois with the lowest rainfall also show as having slight  drought conditions.  We do have more rainfall on the way and the drought monitor map will be updated to reflect this week's rainfall on Wednesday. I hope we got enough rain to plant crops in those dry areas.  In Montgomery, Macoupin and surrounding counties, we will miss several days of field work this week.  I do expect that the rainfall will help the frozen corn to recover quickly.  I also expect that corn planted in the last 2 weeks will be among the best yielding this year.  The jury is still out on the corn planted in March.

Duck Blind

Duck Blind

This duck blind is complete with electrical outlets.  Duck hunting is big business in St. Charles County, MO.  Crops are planted and harvested.  After harvest, water is pumped from wells to flood the area providing perfect habitat for waterfowl hunting.  Hunting can be great supplemental income to farmers if they can find the hunters.

Hillside Seep

Hillside Seep

This wet spot on the side of the hill during relatively dry weather is a good illustration of why tile can be necessary even where surface water runs off.  This hillside is tiled, but it looks like the tile was not placed to intercept this seep.  It can be a tricky thing to do.

Cold morning

The weather man was off a few degrees this morning.  We had 33 at the coldest, but I saw a lot more frost this morning.  It was really hard to see any additional damage to crops.  It seemed that leaf tips were stunted from yesterday's freeze, but no real damage.  Leaves are very yellow, but that is common with low temperatures. 

I am reading about black cutworm already.  I see there are moth's in the traps, but I am not sure if anyone has found any cutting yet. 

Frozen Corn

I worked in the Hettick area today. The first field we pulled into, it was obvious the corn had been frozen.  It was 2 leaf stage, so no problem.  The smaller frozen off corn sort of turns back the clock to it being just below the surface.  Tomorrow should be just as cold or colder.

We had a few people who had some soybeans up.  Those will need to be replanted.

A Hettick dairyman has cut all of his first cutting alfalfa.   It looks very good.  Hope he gets it all harvested before rain. 

This photo was posted on Twitter by @CoryRitter.

River bottoms again

Worked St. Charles County MO again today.  Lots of corn planted.  Still seeing planters in the field.  Sprayers were also running, spraying soybean ground mostly.  A lot of soybean ground is ready to plant, but people seem to be holding back.  There is no reason to get in a hurry. 

West of Gillespie, IL I saw someone baling large squares of alfalfa.  First cutting hay seldom looks this good.  It was cut on Friday, so it has had plenty of time to dry with no rain on it.  It was very green and looked wonderful.  It was cut early enough that is should be very high in nutrients as well.  If you have  a choice between cutting alfalfa and planting soybeans, I say cut alfalfa.

I suspect you all have noticed that evening posting is late.  This is our busiest time of year.  I am still shooting for a blog every day.  Thanks for coming to see what I have to say. 

Crop Progress Report

Illinois Weather and Crop Report says 17% of corn is planted statewide.  It is surprising that it is not more, but the numbers appear to be accurate for our area.  It says we have 40% planted.  I would say we have more than 5% emerged.

Wheat is still looking good where I have been.  Some of it could have used more nitrogen.  8% of wheat is headed state wide.  I have not seen any heads peeking out yet, but it was in the boot stage in Monroe County yesterday.  Where does that put wheat harvest?  Should be a great year for double crop soybeans if there is any moisture at all. 

St. Charles County Missouri seemed to match West Southwest, IL stats pretty well.  Soil was moist to wet in that area today.