We Need A Rain!!
Trent Brandenburg notes some corn damage already from the extended dry period. According to the National Weather Service in Lincoln, “Much of central Illinois (except for Springfield) is running 7-17 inches behind 2011 precipitation totals for the first half of the year, with Paris and Lawrenceville nearly 20 inches below last year”
Trent estimates that less than 5% of his corn plantings have tasseled, but 30% will be tasseled by the end of next week. As the tassels emerge and the critical pollination period begins, continued dry weather will pose an increasingly serious threat to this year’s corn yield.
His soybeans have emerged well but are not growing much because of the dry weather. Trent has completed his corn side dressing and, fortunately, got eight-tenths of an inch of rain just after, so the nitrogen is in the root zone thanks to the rain. Weed spraying in the soybean fields was completed last week. “The weeds aren’t growing, either,” Trent observed.
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 [...]