Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Trent Brandenburg and his family wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! When asked what a farmer does in December, Trent replied “It’s cold!!” Actually, Trent has been finalizing his seed and crop protection chemical orders for the 2025 growing season.
A big December farm management decision is the timing of crop sales for corn and soybeans that Trent has in storage. Trent will wait until early January to sell. It is a tax consideration. Trent said “It depends on which year you want the income.”
The wet November peaked soil moisture in Trent’s area at record levels at the 4-inch and 8-inch levels. Currently they are average. At the 20-inch level, the soil moisture plateaued at below average levels in November and is now at near-record lows. The U. S. Drought Monitor shows the north half of Illinois abnormally dry, including the area Trent farms. The area of Illinois northeast, east, and southeast of Trent’s area shows moderate drought.
More from The Field Report
Everything Looks Pretty Good, Says Trent
Trent Brandenburg has finished planting except for a few ponds. He is pleased with the germination so far. It is still too wet for side-dressing, but at least the Drought Monitor shows no dryness in Trent's farming area of Central [...]
Waiting For It To Dry Out
Trent Brandenburg got 1.5 inches of rainfall over Easter Weekend, so he is "waiting for it to dry out," to resume planting. He began planting last Tuesday, April 15. Trent estimated he has about a third of his corn and [...]
Shoveling Bins, Discing, and Waiting
Trent Brandenburg has been shoveling out the last contents of his grain bins to market the last of his stored grain. He has been able to do some discing to prepare for soybean planting. The windy days have been too [...]