Growers are Ready for Fieldwork – Soil is Not

Published On: March 4, 2022

It’s Pretty Spongy

Trent Brandenburg wants to begin his spring fieldwork, but reports the soil is “pretty spongy”. He is hauling grain and is hampered by the wet soil in getting his trucks into his bins to load. This past week’s bright, sunny days in Central Illinois bring on the urge to plant. “Last year was a good year for soybeans,” Trent observed, commenting on Piatt County, Illinois, having the largest per-acre soybean yield in the United States.

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” Trent continued, as he plans to stick with his 50-50 corn-soybean acreage split. “Corn prices are good, too,” Trent continued. Trent’s fertility inputs are stable, but costs are up. He expects to use more fungicide to keep his yields up, even though crop protection chemicals are more expensive. “You have to keep the yield up, in order to have bushels to sell,” Trent concluded, hoping continuing high market prices will minimize his profit squeeze.

More from The Field Report

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

December 16, 2024|

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 [...]

Dry Weather Hastens Harvest

October 25, 2024|

September in central Illinois was one-to-three-inches short of average rainfall. Trent Brandenburg took full advantage of the natural drydown and good field conditions to get his crops from the field to the bin. Trent has completed his soybean harvest. He [...]

Not Quite Harvest Time Just Yet

September 18, 2024|

Trent Brandenburg's earliest-planted corn is "about a week away" from drying below 25% moisture. At that level, he could lower his drying expense at the grain elevator. "Now, if there's an incentive..., " Trent indicated that an elevator offering a [...]