Harvest Is Looking Good
Rain at the end of September called a pause in Trent Brandenburg’s harvest, giving him time to chat. Trent is about 25% done with his corn and soybean harvest. At first, his corn harvest moisture content was in the mid-20s, but “our last load was 15.9% so it’s ready to go.” Trent’s soybeans are also ready. Dry weather is predicted for several days, so the harvest will proceed.
More than an inch of rain in the past ten days has replenished the soil moisture. Most of Central Illinois except the western quarter is now “Abnormally Dry” on the drought map. The western quarter is still in “Moderate Drought.” The subsoil is still dry. That replenishment will have to come from fall rains (after harvest!) and winter snowfall heavier than last winter’s sparse amount.
More from The Field Report
Replanting Done, Corn and Beans Look Good
Trent Brandenburg has replanted his few ponded field "wet spots" as many as three times. The replanted areas are "thin," Trent observed, because "It has been too wet. But at least [replanting] will keep the weeds down." Trent is now [...]
First Round Of Planting Done, Ponds Need Replanting
Trent Brandenburg is done with his "first round" of planting, as he puts it. The corn and soybeans he planted in April are up and growing in excellent condition. Trent's later-planted crops are germinating but not as far along as [...]
Not Much Field Work This Week
Trent Brandenburg does not plan on much fieldwork for this week, starting April 29, 2024. The huge squall line that extended from Texas to Green Bay, Wisconsin, over this past weekend, was far enough west to spare central Illinois from [...]