“The Jobs Are Gone” March 2018
The big headlines about tariffs cause everyone in agri-business to fear that foreign countries who buy so much of American ag production will impose tariffs on us in retaliation.
Trent is concerned about corn and soybean prices being driven lower by the impact of foreign tariffs on U.S. export sales. “After all,” Trent says, “the jobs are gone already and tariffs won’t bring them back.” Trent hopes there is not a repeat of the notorious Carter grain embargo of the late 1970s which drove so much soybean production to South America.
Trent watches the weather as the planting season approaches. “It’s still a little dry,” Trent commented. The recent heavy rains did raise surface soil moisture, but Trent doesn’t think the abnormally dry conditions of the early winter have been eliminated yet. Trent thinks it’s not too wet to plant right now, “but we still have April coming.” Trent noted that the spring season “seems a little early” this year.
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 [...]