The National Corn Growers Association has begun their sixth season of Field Notes.  The program highlights a year in the life of American farm families from a variety of locations and operations.  Each family has one important thing in common– a love for agriculture.

The first grower to be showcased is Jim Raben, an Illinois row crop farmer.  Although Raben is still waiting for conditions to be ready for planting he has been busy making plans for quite some time now.

“We farm mainly corn and soybeans, normally in about a fifty-fifty split,” he explained. “This year, it will be a little different. We plan on putting out about 3,400 acres of corn and, probably, 4,400 acres of soybeans.

“We plan on getting started as soon as weather dries up. We are in the line to get some heavy rains this afternoon again, and we are already wet.

“We have sprayed a little bit, but we have not done any field work whatsoever. So, we are looking forward to a little bit of sun and some wind to dry us out.”

NCGA will be releasing the stories of other growers throughout the season.