Rows Of Bright Green Corn Seedlings In Weeks

Published On: March 28, 2017

Rows Of Bright Green Corn Seedlings In Weeks

Trent Brandenburg has been getting ready to plant for a couple of months, going over machinery maintenance, seed and chemical orders, and watching the weather. Trent wants to do some spring pre-plant tillage, but needs a little rain first. He does not want to work his soil as dry as it is, because if there is then no rain, the newly-tilled soil will get dry too deep for quick, dependable germination.

Trent does not plan any changes to his usual planting plan this year. He will keep the same balance between corn and soybeans, the same level of fertilizer and crop protection chemical application, and the same seed varieties, that have been successful for him in recent years. Trent does not expect to begin planting until April 5 because of the crop insurance requirement. Crop insurance does not pay for replanting of pre-April 5 plantings. A lot can happen to a newly-planted crop in its early weeks.

With the steady faith shared by most farmers at the beginning of each new crop year, Trent looks forward to seeing the beautiful rows of bright green corn seedlings reaching off to his horizons in just a few weeks.

More from The Field Report

Not Quite Harvest Time Just Yet

September 18, 2024|

Trent Brandenburg's earliest-planted corn is "about a week away" from drying below 25% moisture. At that level, he could lower his drying expense at the grain elevator. "Now, if there's an incentive..., " Trent indicated that an elevator offering a [...]

Replanting Done, Corn and Beans Look Good

July 8, 2024|

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

June 6, 2024|

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 [...]