Wet Conditions Increase Need for Scouting

Just about everywhere in our trade territory received another large rain this past week. Early-planted corn and soybeans are starting to take off, but this latest round of rain is not helping the late-planted or replanted acres. These fields should be monitored closely for stand evaluations and disease issues due to the large amount of rainfall received. Herbicide applications should also be watched carefully, as excessive rainfall can dilute residual activity. We are approaching the time for a second soybean herbicide application, and staying on top of weed pressure is very important.

Waterhemp remains the most common weed we battle, and I expect we will see a lot of it taking off in soybean fields this week. Our most common tools for controlling waterhemp are Enlist and Liberty herbicides. Some fields may require both products in the tank. We also do not want to forget about adding residual herbicides at this time of year, as we are still too early for canopy closure. There is plenty of time left for additional weed emergence, so maintaining four weeks of residual control is critical. Some residual products respond differently depending on the amount of rainfall received, so be sure to discuss the best plan with your SFG Agronomist.

If rainfall continues through the rest of June like it has so far, we will also need to monitor disease pressure closely. Diseases are driven by moisture and humidity, and if we see a repeat of last year, we can expect disease issues to increase. We have generally been on the wet side so far this season, and wet years require more monitoring and management decisions than dry years. Reach out to your SFG Agronomist for in-season recommendations and to help maximize your 2026 crop.