Spring Planting is Really Really Slow
Trent Brandenburg has been hunting dry fields to plant. At the end of April 2022, he has planted about 20% of his corn and 20% of his beans. Trent doesn’t believe the early planting will make much difference because the seed has yet to germinate. “It’s too cold,” Trent observed. “If we have a good growing season, we’ll be all right,” he concluded.
Central Illinois farm operators like to plant in April in order to maximize yields. Very little planting occurred in April 2022 because it has rained almost every day, keeping most fields too wet to plant. Working the heavy clay soils when they are too wet causes compaction which inhibits drainage and aeration, both needed for optimum plant growth. The high base exchange capacity of the heavy soils holds more fertilizer ions for better plant development and higher yields. So every year farmers do a dance around the weather and soil conditions to plant for better yields.
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 [...]