Trent Looks Back On 2017
“Spring planting took forever, so harvest took forever too.”
Trent recalled a lot of extra work in replanting after the ponding from the May rains. “The April-planted beans did great,” he happily noted. Overall, Trent’s soybeans did better than expected, because the late harvest of the replanted beans left more time for pod fill.
Trent was also pleasantly surprised with the quality and yield of his corn crop. Forced by seemingly endless rains to plant much of it later than he wanted, the rest of the growing season and the vastly-improved genetics of current varieties, gave Trent a respectable, if not bumper, yield. Another plus feature was the unusually dry August and early September, enabling the corn to dry for storage in the field, rather than having to pay the elevator. “Now, if we could just do something about (market) prices,” Trent concluded.
Trent and his family wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New 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 [...]