Wind And Sun Dried The Fields Fast

This morning (June 6, 2022) Trent Brandenburg was considering if he should start mowing roadsides.  Watching the cloudy skies, he wondered if he would be caught in the rain.  Trent finished his planting over a week ago.  He has a few spots at the ends of the rows in his soybean fields, where he has to turn around, which have sparse populations, not because of germination, but because of the mechanics of turning the planter at the end of the row.  He doesn’t think the replanting is worth it.  He has enjoyed good germination and early growth of both corn and soybeans.

After a long period of below-normal temperature and constant rain in May, the first week of June brought sunny skies, wind, and warmer temperatures.  “It’s amazing how fast it dried out,” Trent noted.  He wants the rain today, happy to postpone mowing for the rain to keep his corn and soybeans supplied with ample moisture.  Quoting from the National Agricultural Statistic Service end-of-May Illinois crop report: “Corn planted reached 89 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 84 percent. Corn emerged reached 76 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 71 percent. Corn condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 12 percent excellent. Soybeans planted reached 75 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 67 percent. Soybean emergence has reached 52 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 50 percent. ”  Trent rates his corn and soybean crop as excellent at this point in the season.