Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Trent Brandenburg and his family wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! When asked what a farmer does in December, Trent replied “It’s cold!!” Actually, Trent has been finalizing his seed and crop protection chemical orders for the 2025 growing season.
A big December farm management decision is the timing of crop sales for corn and soybeans that Trent has in storage. Trent will wait until early January to sell. It is a tax consideration. Trent said “It depends on which year you want the income.”
The wet November peaked soil moisture in Trent’s area at record levels at the 4-inch and 8-inch levels. Currently they are average. At the 20-inch level, the soil moisture plateaued at below average levels in November and is now at near-record lows. The U. S. Drought Monitor shows the north half of Illinois abnormally dry, including the area Trent farms. The area of Illinois northeast, east, and southeast of Trent’s area shows moderate drought.
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 [...]