Lack Of Rain Took The Top Off
Dry Hot Days in August
Trent Brandenburg believes the last two weeks of no rain “took the top off” what had looked like bin-busting yields of both corn and soybeans. “We really needed a good rain two weeks ago,” he continued. Trent doesn’t see a rain event now making much difference, perhaps some improvement in soybean pod fill for later-planted fields.
Trent expects good yields for both his corn and soybean plantings, but the depressed market prices of recent years mean that the revenue netted from the 2020 crop will require careful marketing to maximize the return. The old saying still holds: “It’s not how many bushels you got per acre, but how much money did you take to the bank.”
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 [...]