How are your crops faring this year? What are your early hopes for yields? We’re asking growers about what’s really happening in their fields. Click the Feedback From The Field reporting form and give us your first-hand account on conditions and yields.

Use the interactive map below to see all this year’s reports just by clicking the flagged locations. Click the box in the upper left-land corner of the map to bring up an index of what the different colors of the markers signify and to toggle the week’s reports on and off.

Growers posting Feedback From The Field last week noted overall stable conditions for corn and soybeans. But at the same time their assessment of yield potential was lower as slow development and a drying trend take a toll on crops.

Average yield estimates so far remain below forecasts churned out by other methods, including USDA’s weekly ratings, key state weather and satellite maps. Growers last week rated corn a little lower and soybeans a little higher, but both were below average.

A producer in eastern Kansas projecting just 25-bushel soybeans and 75-bushel corn said many fields were stunted, even after side dressing, and now face drought. “Still short, poor color and trying to put on a very small ear,” was the assessment. “Beans have a terrible long way to go yet, planted so late.”

Many comments last week focused on lack of rainfall in July, after many were inundated in the spring.

“Have not had rain in a month,” said a farmer in a corner of western Illinois receiving little precipitation, hoping for yields of 160 bpa corn and 45 bpa soybeans.

Out on the central and southern Plains, heat can be unrelenting and that’s been the case this year, compounding the effects of only scanty rainfall in some areas.

“Have not had a rain event over .26 of an inch since the middle of June,” was the report from northwest Kansas.  “Five days of 102 degrees plus 15-30 mph winds on those days.  Most other days around 95 degrees.  Scalded corn.”

In parts of the eastern Midwest farmers can only shake their heads at the challenges faced by their crops.

“After being excessively wet for the past 8 months, we have now gone the other way,” reported a farmer in northwest Ohio. “What few crops we did get planted are now under stress from being too dry. Crops that were planted when it was too wet are really showing the stress even more. Yield prospects for this area are not good.”

“Can't wait for this nightmare of a growing season to be over.”

And in northern Indiana varied conditions were helped by timely rains but corn is vulnerable to even a normal frost while soybeans are short.

“Only God knows where we finish,” was the comment. “Lots can happen to let us skate or get even bloodier. Say your prayers!”

Follow along with the season by clicking these links:

Feedback from the Field - July 29, 2019 - Crops improve after heat breaks

Feedback from the Field - July 22, 2019 - Blazing heat wilts crops

Feedback from the Field - July 15, 2019 - Hot, dry week stresses soybeans

Feedback from the Field - July 8, 2019 - Crops improve but development lags on late planting

Feedback From The Field - July 1, 2019 - Crops improve but development lags on late planting

Feedback From The Field - June 24, 2019 - Planting woes aren’t only worry for growers

Feedback From The Field - June 17, 2019 - Acres lost to corn prevent plant mount

Feedback from the Field - June 10, 2019 - Judgement time: Take prevent plant or keep going?

Feedback from the Field - June 3, 2019 - Corn planting deadlines pass as farmers ponder what to do

Feedback from the Field - May 28, 2019 - Growers make progress, but at what cost?

Feedback from the Field - May 20, 2019 - Warm, dry week gets growers in the field as crucial benchmarks arrive

Feedback from the Field - May 13, 2019 - Wet is the word for 2019.

Feedback From the Field - May 6, 2019 - Some farmers in western areas make progress but overall planting remains slow.

Feedback From the Field - April 29, 2019 - Farmers in eastern Corn Belt and upper Midwest face delays.

Feedback From the Field - April 22, 2019 - A few wheels turned but most of the Corn Belt is too wet.