Prepping for new growing season Corn and soybean yields suffered from moisture in 2019 Story by Pam Eggemeier For North Central Illinois Ag Mag Farmers have barely had time to catch their breath from a year of record-setting wet weather that delayed planting and harvests, causing many to take a loss on cash crops, but it’s time to plan for a new planting season. The first half of 2019 was the wettest in Illinois history, pushing back the timeline on planting the state’s most important crops — corn and soybeans. Harvest season dragged into the new year in some areas and now the toll it took can be quantified. Corn production was down 18 percent, and soybeans were down 20 percent, according to the final yield data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Continued on page 6
Alex T. Paschal/For North Central Illinois Ag Mag
Mechanics Kourtney Ranken and Josh Armbruster look over the transmission of a John Deere tractor at Holland and Sons in Dixon. This is the time of year when farmers are focused on equipment maintenance, and there’s been a lot of demand for it. Last year’s wet crops took a toll on farm machines, especially combines.
Farm Management - Consulting Real Estate Brokerage Farmland Auctions
Serving Today’s Farmers for Over 57 Years! WE DELIVER: • PROPANE • MOTOR OILS • FUELS
Call me on howI can assist with your agricultural needs
Timothy A. Harris, AFM Managing Broker, IL Lic. Auctioneer #441.001976, Princeton, IL
815-875-7418 timothy.a.harris@pgim.com www.capitalag.com LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKERS
Manlius Oil Co. Inc.
Manlius, IL, Hwy. 40 • (815) 445-3122 SM-PR1747320
4
s p r i n g
2 0 2 0
