Illinois farmer switches to more corn acres just ahead of planting

News

Illinois farmer switches to more corn acres just ahead of planting

An Illinois farmer is making some last-minute acreage changes ahead of spring planting.

Mark Read farms near Putnam in north central Illinois.

“We actually just made the decision to switch some acreage from soybeans to corn right now, as long as we can get the nitrogen, is a little more profitable. Part of that is due to the last USDA report and the financial part of it.”  

Read says it is too cold and wet to start planting yet, but when it is time, they plan to plant soybeans first.

“We did that last year with success. So far, we have found we can get an additional 5-10 bushels per acre by planting in April.”

But he says that only works when there isn’t a late frost and the extended forecast shows some more cool days ahead, so, “It’s just hard to get too excited about planting right now.” , he says.

Read serves as the District 5 Director for the Illinois Soybean Association.

.