Dunkirk is left to hold out for something better against gloomy commodity price predictions. Meanwhile, there's nothing Dunkirk can do but plant the next crop on his 1,900-acre farm, which has a crop rotation with about half corn and half soybeans. University specialists say that the ideal time to plant corn in central Illinois is about April 10. With favorable conditions, Dunkirk likes to start about a week earlier. He can get his corn planted in six full days of work, which rarely occurs uninterrupted, and needs about the same time to plant soybeans after May 1.
Spring rains can delay planting for any length of time.
But many farmers will plant even earlier if they get the chance. This year, some local farmers were in full swing by the last days of March. I decided I'd wait until Easter. His plans are to begin planting Monday or Tuesday, barring rain. About a quarter of his corn acreage will be planted with the so-called Bt variety, named for the naturally occuring bacillus thuringiensis toxin that is lethal to corn borers and other caterpillars.