Weekly Weather and Crop Update

It was pretty routine weather last week as shown by the Weekly Weather and Crop Update from the Southern Research and Outreach Center. Temperatures averaged 69.5 degrees only .2 degrees cooler than normal. Rainfall totaled 1.57 inches and that was .44 degrees higher than normal. Growing degree units totaled 137.5 which was 5 percent above normal. Since May 1 we have now accumulated 2176.5 growing degree units. That puts the yearly total 11 percent above normal.

The corn has reached the dent stage and in 95 day hybrids the milk line is moving down the kernel. The rain this week will give the corn plenty of moisture to finish the grain fill period. The corn is moving nutrients from the leaves to the kernels. Soybeans are in the R6 or full pod stage. That means that the soybean aphid season is winding down for another season, unless the beans were planted much later than normal. I have heard of some diseases showing up like SDS but there have been few reports yet of white mold.