Corn Leaves Starting to Roll From Lack of Rain
“The corn leaves are rolling,” Trent Brandenburg replied when asked about drought effects on his crops. Despite widespread central Illinois one-inch rains Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th, as reported by CoCoRaHS (Community Cooperative Rain, Hail and Snow Network), the current Central Illinois Soil Moisture Map for each calendar day (Champaign) shows today’s moisture (June 28) at the 4-inch depth to be just entering the lowest 20% ever measured; at the 8-inch depth at the record low, and at the 20-inch depth well within the lowest 20%. The Drought Monitor Map doesn’t get updated until Thursdays each week.
Trent noted that the corn plant rolls its leaves “to protect itself” from further moisture loss. “If we get a good rain pretty soon, we’ll be all right,” Trent concluded. Last week’s Drought Monitor Map showed a multi-county area labeled “Moderate Drought” covering most of DeWitt, Piatt, Champaign, Douglas, and Vermilion Counties.
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 [...]