Considering the way the season started the corn and soybean crops look very good from the road. However, there are some good reasons to do some scouting to look below the surface. Most of us can think of places we would rather be, than scouting corn and soybean fields in August. Corn fields seem almost jungle-like and soybean fields can feel like trying to move through quicksand. If you go out in the morning before the temperature starts to climb you are rewarded by almost instantly being soaked while trying to move through the dew-soaked plants. As unattractive as I have made this sound it is still a very good idea to be checking fields at this time.

Now is a good time to be checking corn to see how the ears are filling out. In the last few days we have been getting reports from across the state that in many fields the last 1-2 inches of the ears are not filling out. In many cases it appears pollination was successful but soon after fill started it quit, in the ear tips. So far most theories about this problem indicate that it is likely an unfortunate combination of genetics and weather.

In soybeans, many growers may be aware that a huge soybean aphid outbreak is underway in the north-western Corn Belt. The Dakotas, northeastern Nebraska, Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin are reporting some of the worst infestations they have ever seen. In some areas 90% to 100% of the soybean fields have been sprayed. Reports from Northern Illinois have shown a recent increase in aphid numbers but field averages are still below threshold numbers. The current threshold: "Treatment may be warranted if there are 250 or more aphids per plant at the R1 through R5 stages of development, 80% of the plants are infested, and natural enemies are not suppressing the aphid population." Last Wednesday (Aug 13), one field scouted in Woodford County, just this side of Peoria, averaged 83 aphids per plant in a field at the R3 stage. One of the sampled plants had 440 aphids per plant. The average the previous week had been 17 aphids per plant.

There are also reports that Sudden Death Syndrome, SDS, has started to show up. There is not much you can do but sit back and watch and see how big the patches get. You may want to take note of any varietal differences and talk to your seed dealers about alternatives.