“We need rain,” Trent Says

Published On: June 27, 2023

Near-record dryness in central Illinois is about to take a toll on the corn crop. April 2023 and May 2023 together were among the driest months since records have been kept. Quincy had 3.01 inches from April 1 to May 31, 2023, the third-lowest total on record. Champaign, Illinois, had its ninth driest two months on record.

The old farmer’s saying that “it always rains five minuted before it’s too late” is holding out hope for some rain this coming weekend, “just a few tenths,” Trent said. “It will take inches of rain to get us out of this drouth,” he concluded. Some of Trent’s corn is a week away from tasseling, so he needs rain for pollination to be successful.

Weather irony has been evident in central Illinois. Christian County had an 8-inch rain in one location, making May 2023 there the wettest in 40 years. Unfortunately, Trent doesn’t farm there.

More from The Field Report

August: Crop Tours and Farm Shows

September 1, 2023|

August in the farming community is the month for crop tours and farm shows. Trent Brandenburg believes his corn and soybean yields will exceed the numbers posted for recent crop tours. Various ag firms host crop tours during August in [...]

The Rain Came Just In Time For The Corn

July 26, 2023|

Trent Brandenburg's corn crop was badly hurting from the drought in May and June. The tassels were emerging on the shortest corn stalks in recent memory. The rain came with the huge derecho on July 8, 2023, and more reasonable [...]

“We need rain,” Trent Says

June 27, 2023|

Near-record dryness in central Illinois is about to take a toll on the corn crop. April 2023 and May 2023 together were among the driest months since records have been kept. Quincy had 3.01 inches from April 1 to May [...]