Reports are for crop conditions up to September 7, 2023.
Western Maryland
Still dry! Pasture is all but gone. Corn silage harvest is well underway. Some areas have gotten some timely rains and their beans and corn will Fair better. Most double crop beans are suffering. So send rain, we will welcome it.—Jeff Semler, Washington Co.
Central Maryland
Crops are drying down quickly in this hot, dry weather. Corn harvest is underway, with soybeans to follow shortly. With the drought, grass hay did not grow back as quickly, reducing third cutting. Remember to stay hydrated in this heat!—Kelly Nichols, Montgomery Co.
Northern Maryland
We have received very little rain over the past 4 weeks, causing the rapid dry down of crops. Most corn is denting and quickly approaching black layer and full season soybeans are starting to drop leaves; some due to maturity and some due to lack of moisture. Most corn ears look decent, so the bulk of the crop should make an ok yield, although the further west you go in the region the more severe the drought has been. Soybeans on the other hand are quite variable with some small pods and small beans. Double crop soybeans are especially hurting. Corn silage chopping has been in full swing for about two weeks now; corn grain harvest will not be far off. We did find tar spot in several fields in Harford county, but all at very low levels that should not affect yield. Many acres of cover crop have been flown into standing corn and it could use some rain to germinate. Pasture and hay is suffering in the heat and drought.—Andy Kness, Harford Co.
Upper and Mid Shore
Hopefully by the time this is being read, we are thankful about rains on the weekend of the 9th/10th!! Parts of the upper shore region are drier now than anytime this growing season. Most of the corn is mature and drying fast. Late corn is dying fast. Early maturing beans look good and are dropping leaves. Late maturing beans and double crop beans are dropping leaves also – due to drought! Corn harvest will be starting by the time this is printed with bean harvest beginning the following week. Cover crop seeding is well underway. Hay quality and yield have been phenomenal recently.—Jim Lewis, Caroline Co.
Lower Shore
Corn is drying down. Both full season and double crop soybean are looking good. Full season soybean is on average in early reproductive stages. The crop dusters have been flying, aerially seeding cover crops. Herbicide-resistant palmer amaranth and marestail have escaped management in some fields and precautions should be taken during harvest to prevent seed spread. If at all possible, palmer amaranth should be hand pulled at this point in the season.—Sarah Hirsh, Somerset Co.
Southern Maryland
In the last report I noted that we continued to receive rain just in the nick of time. Well our luck has run out. Conditions are very dry across the majority of Southern Maryland. As a result, corn is drying down, whether it’s ready or not. Corn harvest is in full swing with reports of good to very good yields for early planted corn. I suspect the majority of the corn crop corn was made when the drought started. Beans are another story. Double crop beans are affected the most, with many fields failing to recover overnight and patches on knolls or sandy areas dying. Full season beans planted early were also mostly made and are drying down now; though bean size is probably going to be smaller. Deer damage is readily apparent in later planted beans that are failing to re-grow or canopy following deer feeding. Of course these fields are hot spots for weeds, including common ragweed and the pigweeds.—Ben Beale, St. Mary’s Co.
*Regions (counties):
Western: Garrett, Allegany, Washington. Central: Frederick, Montgomery, Howard. Northern: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll. Upper & Mid Shore: Cecil, Kent, Caroline, Queen Anne, Talbot. Lower Shore: Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico. Southern: St. Mary’s, Anne Arundel, Charles, Calvert, Prince George’s
