Rients prepping for harvest

A cornfield about to be harvested at last week's Threshermen's Reunion near Pontiac.

PONTIAC – Corn is moving closer to maturity and soybeans are starting to turn in the fields of Aaron Rients who farms near Flanagan and Graymont.

“I’m thinking yields are going to be 200 to 220,” Rients told The Central Illinois Farm Network. “We are seeing a little bit of tipback and smaller diameter ears than you’d like but we are getting cool nights and have plenty of water.”

Rients feels this year’s later rains helped increase the pod size on soybeans, which could translate to decent yields. Rients farms with two other guys, covering the Pontiac, Gridley and Chenoa areas too.

“We combined to do some farming together and hopefully have a little better bottom line.”

Sharing equipment has been a good thing for Rients, leading to better on-farm technology as well.

Rients also operates Rients Seeds which sells LG and Golden Harvest, offering a full trait lineup of both corn and soybeans. He plans to have early conversations with growers very soon about next year’s seed needs.

Another hat Rients wears is as a director for the annual Threshermen’s Reunion near Pontiac which has just concluded for another year. This year’s show had great weather and attendance.