We hope these reports will provide additional benefits for staying current as the season progresses. Last week we talked about the storms and moisture. This week it is essentially the same, other than the areas affected by large rainfall totals the past few days have increased. Considerable flooding along all area rivers and streams with more heavy rain predicted at the end of the week. Pythium and phytophthora are two water-mold diseases taking a toll on the soybean population.
Crazy top is a distinct possibility in cornfields where the entire plant was submersed and survived.
Some reports of Stewart's wilt trickling in. Saturated soils and nitrogen in the nitrate form in the soil could lead to denitrification and leaching of nitrates, which could lead to some shortages of nitrogen available to the plant in the future. Post-herbicide applications to soybeans and corn are falling behind schedule, and weeds are growing with the ample moisture. Leafhopper numbers are holding steady in fields swept late last week in Stephenson County, with treatment thresholds not yet reached. Fireflies are supposed to be the indicator of when the rootworm hatch is under way.