Crops Look Good Overall, But Not As Good As Last Year
June 2016 Field Report
Crops Look Good Overall
Trent Brandenburg has his corn and soybean planting done, side dressing done, corn sprayed and beans yet to spray. Corn is “not so good on some soils,” Trent said, noting that poor germination in cold, wet soils, took a toll. “It’s not the best, but uneconomic to replant, so we’ll leave it,” he concluded. Trent thinks we need a rain, a half-inch to an inch, “but not all at once,” as he has seen corn leaves rolling to conserve the plant’s moisture.
Trent rates corn planted between April 15 and 20 as excellent. Some corn was drowned out and some “is behind where it should be” due to cool weather. The soybean crop cannot be evaluated yet, according to Trent, because the plants are not far enough developed due to the unusual planting delay this year between corn and bean planting. Trent noted that August rains will have the most effect on the bean crop.
Referring again to the current need for rain, Trent was happy that the grass was not growing so fast, thus reducing his mowing chores.
More from The Field Report
From Drought To Ponding And Replanting
In barely months, Trent's challenges have gone from extreme drought to repeated ponding and replanting. Trent has replanted some corn and soybeans twice, only to have the ponding return yet again. "I don't think I will try to replant corn [...]
Corn And Soybean Planting Done, Some Germinated, More To Come
Trent Brandenburg is happy to have completed his corn and soybean planting by the 15th of May. "It's slow," he said, commenting on the germination delay by the recent cool temperatures. Moderately heavy rains the last few days have caused [...]
Worked Some Fields, With A Sunny Day Could Begin Planting
Trent Brandenburg has "worked a couple of fields, they're barely ready" after several days of rain last week. "If we get a sunny day tomorrow I could plant some," Trent continued. The long-standing extreme drought in central Illinois has been [...]