FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In this year’s growing season, third-generation Fort Wayne farmer Don Wyss said he had his wettest April in history, and was a month behind in completing planting.

“We had about two weeks of dry weather, and I completed planting soybeans in the first week of June,” Wyss, who serves as United Soybean Board’s Supply Action Team lead, told Farm World. “This was helpful as we want to see the roots get pointed down to chase the moisture.

“Currently, we’ve had plentiful rain in the last few weeks, leading into mid-July, and have improved corn and soybean crops in our area,” he added. “Ideal conditions are forecast, with temperatures around 80 degrees when the corn will be ready to pollinate. For soybeans, we’ve had ideal weather over the last few weeks, and they continue to catch up.”

As for the impact the weather has had on his fields this planting season and the outlook for the growing season, he said, “We had to replant for both corn and soybeans due to wet conditions (less than 10 percent of the crop). I’m a firm believer that we’ll need timely rains in August to help with pod fill. We will be looking out for that type of forecast for ideal yields.

“Last year, we had no rain mid-May to mid-June, and a dry period during late-season pod fill, which is quite different, compared to all the moisture we’ve received in 2024,” he added.

Mark Legan, a Coatesville, Ind., farmer, told Farm World crop conditions have greatly improved in west central Indiana in the past couple of weeks (as of July 18).

“After a wet, cold planting season that included some replanting, we had a relatively dry June,” he said. “Recently, we have had some decent rains locally, but have not wasted any precipitation. These, along the cooler temperatures here at the end of the month, should alleviate stress on the growing crop.

“The corn is over half-pollinated and a lot of soybeans are in the R3 maturity stage (when there is a pod at least 3/16 inch long, but less than 3/4 inch long, at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf),” he added. “The wheat yields appeared to be decent in our area as well, with double-crop beans off to a decent start.”

Dennis Todey, an agricultural meteorologist and director of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa, told Farm World said, “Much of the north and west part of the Corn Belt has been wet. This includes parts of Indiana and Michigan. The worst has been Missouri, and an area from southeast South Dakota, east to Wisconsin.

“The last 30 days have seen more than 10 inches of precipitation in some cases,” he added. “This has led to excessive wetness and flooding that is going to cause some crop loss. The other extreme is mainly in Ohio, where conditions are much drier and warmer, and where drought has resurged.”

He said, however, “Overall, crop conditions are pretty good. Despite the excessive wetness, the wetter conditions have eliminated a lot of drought and left crop conditions generally good. Some of the northern states are not as good for corn and soybeans because of the wetter areas. And the drought areas are producing some stress on crops and pastures in Ohio.”

When asked what his overall analysis of this year’s planting season and outlook for the growing season are, he said, “We have had some extreme wetness in places that have caused crop losses and other issues. Severe weather (i.e., hail, wind, etc.) have also damaged crops. But overall, the conditions seem very good.

“The overall coolness right now during corn tasseling further reduces potential stress and yield losses,” he added. “There are some potentially upcoming issues with soybeans. Generally, it looks like a very good year.”

“Precipitation does not have a strong signal,” he said. “So the additional heat into August could be a problem for soybeans and still a bit to corn.”

Wyss said, “Temperatures and rainfall for the rest of the growing season will influence yields, but overall, I think they should be decent. I still think we will see more variability in yields this fall than last year, related to planting date and stand establishment. But we need to realize, locally, we saw record yields last year.”

For the week ending June 13, the USDA said Indiana corn silking and soybean blooming progress continued. Corn and soybean condition remained stable. Winter wheat harvest neared completion.

In Illinois, corn silking reached 62 percent. Corn dough reached 8 percent. Soybeans blooming reached 66 percent. Winter wheat harvested for grain reached 96 percent.

In Michigan, corn conditions declined slightly with some reports of yellowing from excessive rain and nitrogen leaching. Soybeans blooming increased to 46 percent, and half the winter wheat crop had been harvested.

In Ohio, corn condition was rated 67 percent good to excellent, while soybean condition was rated 64 percent good to excellent. Winter wheat was 97 percent harvested. Oat progress was 89 percent headed.

In Kentucky, 65 percent of the corn crop is silking and 29 percent is in the milk stage. Forty-one percent of the soybean crop is blooming, and 19 percent setting pods.