We Are Not Having A Normal Winter
Winter Rains & Flooding Following 60 Degrees in January
Trent Brandenburg believes the jumbled, abnormal weather patterns of 2019 “are not done yet.” He continued, “It’s supposed to get cold in December and stay cold until March. But here we are having 60-degree days in January and it’s still raining!!” Trent wants to move grain from his bins to the elevator now that it’s a new tax year, and it’s as muddy as it was when the crops were planted last spring. With record rainfall predicted over this weekend (January 10-12, 2020) it’s not likely to dry out soon.
Fortunately, Trent has his fall tillage 95% done, so he will not be behind going into spring. “If you can’t get started in the spring, that has a tail that lasts all year,” Trent observed. Trent plans to stay with his present crop rotations of corn and soybeans. Despite enduring the weather and market challenges of the past crop year, Trent “still has the desire to start the new year. I just want a good clean start,” he concluded.
More from The Field Report
Machinery and Tile Repairs While Awaiting Warmer Weather
Trent Brandenburg is enjoying the first day of Spring finishing up some machinery repairs. His fieldwork right now involves fixing broken field tiles and clearing waterways to ensure good drainage during the crop year. Trent has not started serious field [...]
Need More Cold Weather, Warmer Markets
Trent Brandenburg wants more cold weather to freeze the soil deeper and kill more overwintering insects. "We are having too many 40-degree days," he observed. Trent noted, "Not much grain is moving," due to lower market pricing. "Eventually, the owner [...]
December Details, Then Christmas
Trent Brandenburg has a lot of details to work with in December before the presents can be wrapped and the tree trimmed. Trent farms plots of land for many different owners. In December the harvest is done. No two plots [...]