The Field Report

December 21, 2021|

Good Yields + Good Markets = Merry Christmas!!

Trent and his family wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy and Prosperous New Year

Trent Brandenburg expects a Merry Christmas this year. His farming operations have brought in good crop yields. Recent strength in the corn and soybean markets have improved his return. The continuing increase in central Illinois farmland values have enhanced his investment. Trent looks for an increased cost of crop inputs for 2022. He expects the market to remain strong enough that he will be able to absorb the increased cost of inputs this next year. He foresees a possible “rough year” in 2023.

Trent does not plan any major changes in his corn-soybean balance nor in his fertility and crop protection programs. He has them well-tuned to his established operations and sees no reason for major changes. The remarkable improvements in corn and soybean genetics in recent years have provided here-to-fore unknown consistency and reliability to Midwest cash grain farming. Weather remains the big variable, and now the biggest risk factor, and beyond the farmer’s control.

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Waiting For The Warmup

March 25, 2014|

March 2014 Trent is resigned to slow waiting for the soil to dry out and warm up. The frost depth was 8 inches as recently as February 25 and is now about two inches. This persistent frost depth has inhibited the movement of water in [...]

Looking Back And Looking Ahead

January 27, 2014|

January 2014 During the mid-winter, farm operators look back on the previous crop year and look ahead to the coming year. It's a good time to step back from the rush of everyday farming operations and try for a long view. Trent said, "Last year [...]

“A Whole Lot Better Than Last Year”

October 16, 2013|

Decent Yields, Despite Record-Dry August Despite the late planting this season, and the record-dry August, Trent Brandenburg is happy with his soybean and corn crops. Although Trent's pre-harvest estimate of his soybean yield was in the 40-bushel-per-acre range, he was pleasantly surprised to get 55-60-bushel [...]

Combining Corn?? Yes and No

September 19, 2013|

Corn is Still Too High in Moisture Trent Brandenburg, asked if he was combining corn, answered "Yes and no." He had hand-sampled a few ears which were 29-29% moisture. A combine trip around the field resulted in the hopper contents testing 40%, way too wet [...]

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