Corn Looks “Amazingly Well” For Bad Planting Conditions
Trent Brandenburg said, “The corn looks amazingly well for the conditions it was planted in. He continued, “Beans are a different story. There aren’t any nice-looking bean fields because of the spotty germination.” Trent has 2-3% of his acreage yet to replant due to ponding, but only has a week to do it. “Otherwise, I’ll just let it go,” as not worth replanting so late.
Bean germination was so spotty that all the plants in a field will not mature at the same time, reducing the harvested yield. Trent thinks the USDA planting report was “way off” because he thinks the corn acreage will go up due to late planting, bean acreage switched to corn and the weak bean market. Trent notes a lot of “bean carryover” in storage due to slow sales of last year’s crop. It’s too early to tell if the lowered yields due to the spotty germination will raise bean prices at this year’s harvest. Meanwhile, Trent will scout his fields and mow his roadsides–in between rains.
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 [...]