Soybean Harvest Begins In Two Days, Maybe…
Trent Brandenburg expects to begin his soybean harvest in two days “if it doesn’t rain,” he predicted on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. His corn harvest will begin when the kernel moisture content drops, either from drying in the field or from Trent deciding to pay the elevator for some drying. Trent’s corn is now measuring 22 per cent moisture; Trent is waiting to start corn picking until he determines “if the elevator will take it.”
The Illinois Farm Bureau crop watcher for Champaign County, adjacent to Trent’s county, expects 10-14 days until bean harvest begins there, so Trent is ahead of the east-central Illinois curve. Recent rains and cool weather have slowed the maturity and drydown of both corn and soybeans in east-central Illinois. The rain was welcome to alleviate the drought, but now the moisture slows harvest.
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 [...]