Boots In The Field Report

Harvest is approaching the halfway mark, and the results are telling a story of a challenging growing season across north-central Illinois.

In this week's *Boots in the Field Report*, Ken Ferrie discusses corn yields running 20–40 bushels behind last year, soybean yield variability, and how drainage and heavy summer rains are showing up. He also explains why scalded cornfield edges are appearing following July's record heat and how to distinguish this damage from herbicide drift.

As plot harvest progresses, Ken shares early findings from soybean seed treatment trials, fungicide and fertility responses, and the growing importance of nitrogen timing and rates in corn yields. He also discusses the relationship between corn populations, standability, and yield, along with the challenges of harvesting down corn.

Yield reports for corn are slow to come in and most reports are under last year’s numbers. Wind, water, and disease damage have left field averages lower than expected and leading to low test weight. This and more in this week's #BIFR.

Ken talks scouting for harvest order, making accurate yield estimates, and getting ready for a long harvest in this week’s Boots In The Field Report.

In this week’s Boots In The Field Report, Ken Ferrie walks through evaluations to start doing now after the recent crazy weather to be more prepared for harvest this fall.

Ken discusses heavy aphid pressure and the need to start making realistic yield estimates to make sure no one is surprised come harvest time. This and more in this week’s Boots In The Field Report.

Scout now to make sure all areas are getting pollinated and to be able to update your yield expectations to avoid surprises this fall.

In this week’s Boots In The Field Report, Ken Ferrie talks about ponding and nutrient deficiencies as well as insect, disease, and weed scouting reports. He advises what to be on the lookout for during pollination and warns that how fields looked during the water stress will be how they pollinate. Ken shares that he expects the round robin crop report at both the CTC Field Day and Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College to be very interesting this year.

Ken Ferrie gives an overview of the aftermath of all this rain and hail including: the need to remain vigilant in fields zeroed out for hail damage for weed management, yellowing in, Fusarium wilt, and white mold in beans, deficiencies showing in corn – oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen, and options for rescue applications of nitrogen.

This week’s episode of Boots In The Field Report, Ken discusses the recent weather impacts across the region, including crops standing in water, nitrogen concerns after heavy rains, the importance of staying ahead on weed control, scouting for rootworm pressure, and preparing for early tar spot risk.

Ken gives an update on: planting progress, stand evaluations, and nitrate levels in this week’s Boots In The Field.

In this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken gives a recap of some of the issues being called in from the field, planting updates, and a warning to map the gullies in fields that will get fixed this fall to avoid equipment damage this season in tall corn.

In this week’s episode, Ken Ferrie defines what constitutes a CTC “A+” planting rating and the specific environmental conditions needed to achieve it. He breaks down the CTC stoplight signals, showing growers how to use these metrics to guide their planting decisions for maximum success.

The goal is simple but critical: ensuring every seed emerges as evenly as possible. Ferrie explains why growers should have a plan to plant their entire corn acreage in just 5–7 working days, allowing them to wait for the perfect weather window to chase their highest yields yet.

Ken gives a quick update to the planting window warnings according to current forecasts.

Ken Ferrie talks frost damage on beans and planting windows for corn in this Boots In The Field Report

Ken was in Lindsay Ontario giving a presentation for the Durham Soil and Crop Improvement Association and got the chance to talk to a couple of Canadian farmers about what 2025 looked like for them and what they are planning for the 2026 crop year.

In this week’s Boots In The Field Report, Ken Ferrie talks about how in the early planted beans, growers need to be watchful for a need to replant the ponds and to keep a close eye on conventional tillage fields for crusting. He encourages growers to hoe before they know, check on their seed quality, and to use the rain delay to finish up last minute items so they can be ready to go once we dry up.

We need warm temperatures, moisture, and time for decomposition of last year’s crop. Due to the dry fall and cold winter temperatures, we will be facing a heavier carbon penalty this spring since we didn’t get much decomposed last fall. In this episode of Boots In The Field Report Ken Ferrie walks through making sure you are taking care of the corn crop and avoiding being caught in the “ugly corn phase” for long.

Ken talks about what to consider in several areas due to drought conditions; tillage, anhydrous applications, topdressing wheat, population and hybrid selection and more in this week’s Boots In The Field Report!

Ken continues to answer questions that came in during our CTC Winter Virtual College and answers the following questions: “Where would you rank the closing wheel system when it comes to planter attachment updates in comparison to all the other updates you can buy?”, “ How can I evaluate my stand to identify if my closing system is an issue?”, and “Can you put too much downforce on a cast iron wheel?”

In this week’s Boots In The Field Report Ken Ferrie walks through some of the questions that come in during the Virtual College about tillage tools and how to evaluate which is the right one for your situation.