Soil Temperatures - A grant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture Fertilizer Research and Education program funded installation of 4-inch bare soil temperature sensors at selected Illinois Climate Network sites across the state. These data are intended to assist Illinois farmers with timing of post-harvest nitrogen (N) fertilizer application. Statewide maps and tabular information are updated daily. Data on soil temperatures 4 and 8 inches under sod are displayed also.

Growing Degree Days - Development of crops in Illinois can be tracked and projected by maintaining an account of the "heat" accumulated during each growing season. This process involves a comparison of daily maximum and minimum temperatures, collected at Illinois Climate Network sites, to a base temperature, specific for a particular crop, above which development will occur. Degree-day totals are provided specifically for corn, and cold weather crops in general.

Pest Degree Days - Development of agricultural pests can be tracked and projected by maintaining an account of the "heat" accumulated during each pest growth cycle. These pages result from a collaborative scientific effort that combines daily weather data collected by the Illinois State Water Survey at their Illinois Climate Network sites and pest information furnished by the Department of Crop Sciences Integrated Pest Management group, to provide daily, up-to-date information about pest development in Illinois. Computer algorithms have been formulated to track 30 agricultural pests.

Soil Moisture Summary - These monthly or bi-weeky reports provide data on near-surface soil moisture conditions at 17 sites across Illinois. Maps are displayed showing the latest observed percent of normal soil moisture within four layers of soil. Monthly reports provide tabular information on the most recent trend in soil moisture at each site, as well as an overall statewide summary of moisture conditions for the last year. The document is provided as a pdf file. You can download a free PDF reader at www.adobe.com.