It’s April 15, Time To Plant Corn
Moving Along with Spring Planting 2020
Trent Brandenburg has already planted about 1200 acres of corn and soybeans. He is following his corn-bean rotation and choosing to plant fields with the best soil conditions and then planting according to his rotation plan. “At least it’s not as wet as last year,” Trent observed, explaining that he is not as concerned about the cold nights affecting germination as he would be about wet soil.
Trent’s preplant work for corn fields involves “conservation tillage” in which he does not plow. Plowing leaves the soil surface bare and subject to wind and water erosion. By leaving some crop residue on the surface, the valuable topsoil and the nutrients it holds, are preserved for the upcoming crop. For fields to be planted with corn, Trent applies pre-plant herbicides and nitrogen. Soybean fields just get the pre-plant herbicide.
Like most years, Trent is racing the next rain to get as much planted as he can. “It’s April 15,” he said, “Time to plant corn.” The calendar doesn’t wait.
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 [...]