May 28, 2019
It is gonna be another hot one today. They tell us it will be near 90ºF (32) this afternoon, 7-8 degrees above average. We are stopped from planting again today, after rainy days on Saturday and Sunday. The rainfall was spotty on Saturday, stopping the soybean planting, but no rain fell where Ross was planting corn (at least that day). Sunday’s rain put a stop to planting. It really came hard for a short while…the WASCoBs were full!
On Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday, Ross was able to get more corn acres planted; he got in 600+ acres during that short window. Meanwhile, I was only able to plant a little on Saturday afternoon: soon after moving to the field, a rain came through and stopped the soybean planter.
Now that it is the 28th of May, the corn planting window is rapidly closing. We think we have about 9-12 days left to plant corn. Of course, the soybean window is a somewhat bigger. And, looming on the horizon is our wheat crop: it should be combine-ready about June 15. We have a neighbor who will bale up the straw, and the DCB (double-crop soybeans) will need to be planted immediately after.
Ross was making some progress on the Burke farm last Friday evening.
We are grateful for the corn planting progress. If it could stay dry for about a week, that should allow us to complete #plant19. It will take 3 days to dry the soils, and then about 4 days to do the planting.
John is a bit perplexed with his spraying responsibilities. There are now soybean fields that are ready for their post-emerge herbicide application. With the current label restrictions — and the rainy weather keeping the soil wet — it is difficult to find a window of opportunity to get the applications made. Add to that, the planted and emerging corn fields will need a post application soon, too.
In the good news department, the emerging corn and soybeans look pretty good. The corn especially has a healthy, deep green color. The soybeans are popping through the soggy soil, and the little yellow cotyledons turn green quickly.
So, we are eager to see a week or more of sunshine. That would go a long way to seeing the completion of #plant19. Our hearts go out to our neighbors and those across Indiana and the Corn Belt who have yet to put a planter into the field.
Have a wonderful week.
