News

Illinois soybean crop showing regional differences

The director of agronomy with the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) says the state’s soybean crop is showing some regional differences.           

Abigail Peterson says the western part of the state seems to be leading the way.

“Just being over in western Illinois recently, their crops look pretty good.”  She says, “They got in early.  I’m more in the Bureau County area where we had some late plantings with the rain in the spring, so their crop is definitely progressed.”

She tells Brownfield central Illinois has seen some challenges.

“Kind of a mixed bag. We saw some good planting dates, but then some later.”  She says, “Some diseases are popping up cause we had those rain flushes and now we’re getting hot and humid. Japanese beetles are out there, but nothing hitting too many thresholds at the moment.”

Peterson says heavy July rains have caused ponding issues in southern Illinois, but she says overall the state’s soybean crop is looking good.

Brownfield spoke with Peterson at ISA’s Field Talk at Heartland Community College in Normal, IL.

AUDIO: Abigail Peterson – IL Soybean Associaion