The Field Report

June 27, 2023|

“We need rain,” Trent Says

Near-record dryness in central Illinois is about to take a toll on the corn crop. April 2023 and May 2023 together were among the driest months since records have been kept. Quincy had 3.01 inches from April 1 to May 31, 2023, the third-lowest total on record. Champaign, Illinois, had its ninth driest two months on record.

The old farmer’s saying that “it always rains five minuted before it’s too late” is holding out hope for some rain this coming weekend, “just a few tenths,” Trent said. “It will take inches of rain to get us out of this drouth,” he concluded. Some of Trent’s corn is a week away from tasseling, so he needs rain for pollination to be successful.

Weather irony has been evident in central Illinois. Christian County had an 8-inch rain in one location, making May 2023 there the wettest in 40 years. Unfortunately, Trent doesn’t farm there.

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Trent Brandenburg has been getting ready to plant for a couple of months, going over machinery maintenance, seed and chemical orders, and watching the weather. Trent wants to do some spring pre-plant tillage, but needs a little rain first. He does not want to work his soil as dry as it is, because if there is then no rain, the newly-tilled soil will get dry too deep for quick, dependable germination.

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“Real Good!” Harvest Progress Reported

October 4, 2016|

Trent Brandenburg is three-quarters done with his corn harvest and one-third done with his soybeans. "I wish it would dry out some more so I could cut beans," Trent said, alluding to recent heavy rains in he area. Overall, Trent sees the crops as well above average, but not record-setting like 2014.

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