Soy Food Crop Update: September 2025

Wisconsin and Illinois:  

Soybeans across southern Wisconsin are moving into the later reproductive stages, with most fields sitting between R6 (full seed) and R7 (beginning maturity). The early-planted fields look really solid—good standability, healthy canopies, and consistent development. Later-planted acres are a little more variable but still holding decent yield potential. The weather has been on our side lately, with cooler days and mild nights helping seed fill along. Temperatures are expected to gradually warm toward normal or slightly above normal during the daytime; nights with cooler temperature with chances of rain later in the week.  Moisture has been hit or miss depending on location—fields that caught timely rains look great, while lighter soils and drier pockets could use another shot of moisture. The rain in this week’s forecast should give later-planted beans a nice push toward the finish line. Overall, crop conditions are still sitting in the good-to-excellent range. Pod counts are strong, seed size potential looks promising, and those April/early May planted beans are leading the way with excellent uniformity and health. Later-planted beans are still filling seeds and will need a little cooperation from the weather through mid-September to maximize yields. If the warm weather continues, the earliest fields should be ready for harvest by late September, with the bulk of acres expected to follow in early to mid-October.