Iowa
Day 4 of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour found a crop with plenty of potential — and plenty of hidden gaps. Fewer ears, shorter grain length and early-season stress are showing up in fields in parts of both states, complicating the yield picture.
Day 3 of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour reveals low ear counts dragging down rain-weary Illinois fields, while Western Iowa corn flashes standout potential despite rising SDS and brown stem rot in soybeans.
As school starts earlier and state fairs hold their late-summer slots, farm kids across America face an impossible choice: Show livestock and honor family legacy or show up for practice and keep their spot on the team.
East-central Iowa field agronomist says misjudging corn growth stage, not herbicide choice, can be the biggest risk in post-emerge passes.
Farmers might have wrapped up planting at a rapid pace this year, despite cool temperatures and frost concerns, but high fertilizer costs discouraged some from switching soybean acres to corn.
Agronomist Phil Long explains the critical gap between air and soil temperatures and why the “heat engine” for corn and soybeans has stalled in some areas.
Now present in seven states, the small pest is taking a toll on soybean crops and making Midwest growers look beyond traditional insecticides for yield protection.
Spotty spring rains have slowed planting in southwest Iowa, leaving farmers slightly behind. Despite delays, strong planning, good moisture, and a favorable forecast has Pat Sheldon optimistic for the 2026 crop season.