Crop Watch 2025: Corn Yield Threats
Several threats are impacting corn yields this season, including overly tight tassel wrap, Southern Rust and tar spot.
Unscripted: ‘Overly Tight Tassel Wrap’ Affecting Pollination?
Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, joins Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths to shed light on crop conditions, particularly pollination issues.
Crop Condition News
What’s often called the “white combine” is hammering western Kansas this year, an ugly reality for an area that’s finally receiving rain after nearly five years of drought.
The goal of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour is to get an objective view of corn yield potential and count pods in a 3' square for soybeans. One of the keys this year will be how much damage the drought caused through June.
Missouri Farmer Discovers Startling Reality of Drought: Entire Cornfields Never Pollinated This Year
Drought is creating a dreary outlook for Missouri farmers, but it wasn’t until mid-July that some realized just how bad it was. Farmers in pockets of severe drought now say they have widespread pollination problems.
Crop condition ratings seemed to be in a free fall in early summer, but July’s rains and cooler temperatures sparked a rebound. The heat this week means crop conditions could be set to take another hit.
Arizona is breaking records for consecutive days with temperatures 110 degrees or above. Yuma County, Arizona farmer John Boelts says he always plans for high heat in July and grow crops like cotton instead of lettuce.
With heat forecast to top 100 degrees in places, combined with the expectation for little to no rain, crop conditions could deteriorate and the biggest risk in the western and central Corn Belt.
19 months after an EF4 tornado tore through the town, the deadliest in Kentucky’s history, the Mayfield community faced massive flooding this week after nearly 12 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, setting a new record.
The Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase 2 has dispersed $2.015 million, eclipsing the $2 million threshold. However, these disbursements are much lower than what USDA had projected for this program.
The National Drought Mitigation Center estimates 67% of corn and 60% of soybeans are still considered to be in drought, a slight improvement from last week when drought covered 70% of corn and 63% of soybeans.
Flattened corn can often recover, stand and produce decent yields. Soybeans can shake off a storm and flourish, but beware spider mites in the next 10 days if temperatures stay 85-plus degrees with low humidity.