Crop Tour reports show mixed corn yields and limited soybean disease in South Dakota and Nebraska

Tour leader Chip Flory reported sampling corn and soybeans in Nebraska’s Thurston, Burt, Washington and Dodge counties (districts 3 and 6). Corn yields ranged from 150.2 to 198.1 bushels per acre, averaging 172.9 bpa, while soybean pod counts in 3-by-3-foot squares varied between 686.4 and 1,555, with an average of 1,241.2. Flory noted that early-season cold snaps followed by hot, dry conditions created extreme variability in South Dakota, where the crop is already dented and entering early senescence. In Nebraska, the corn crop was described as good but not exceptional, with bacterial leaf streak as the most common disease, alongside occasional northern leaf blight, southern rust, heat-related tip-back, and pollination issues in Dodge County. Brown stem rot was the most noticeable soybean disease observed.

Consultant Brent Judisch sampled in South Dakota’s Lincoln, Turner and Hutchinson counties. Corn yields there ranged from 65 to 174 bushels per acre, averaging 124.8 bpa, and soybean pod counts ranged from 230 to 1,687 per 3-by-3-foot square, averaging 1,131.9. He attributed the lower corn yields to hot, dry conditions in late June and July that caused severe drought stress, though August rains improved soybean potential. A local farmer reported that only about half of the corn stalks in drought-affected areas produced viable ears, and pollination issues were observed inconsistently, sometimes appearing on higher-yielding plants. Judisch said disease pressure was minimal, with only some northern leaf blight on corn and no rust or tar spot. Soybeans were largely disease-free, benefiting from the dry early season, and recent rain was expected to support strong yields.