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Drought creating challenges for Wisconsin producers of all types

An eastern Wisconsin specialty crop grower says the ongoing drought has created some challenges this year.

Robyn Calvey, who owns Park Ridge Organics in Fon du Lac County, tells Brownfield, “It’s not a bad year. It has rained not enough, which is typical. We do have irrigation set up, so it makes for a bit more work on our end.”

Despite the challenges, she says having to rely on irrigation brings an added benefit to vegetable production.

“It does also control and mitigate our risk of disease when we’re able to be the one that’s deciding when water goes on and when it doesn’t,” she says.

As of Sunday, the USDA says 62% of Wisconsin corn is in good to excellent condition, which is down 3% from last week.  Eighty-five percent is in the dough stage, 38% is dented, and 5% is mature.  Sixty-one percent of soybeans are in good condition, which is down 2% on the week, with 96% setting pods and 5% dropping leaves.  Ninety percent of oats are harvested.

AUDIO: Robyn Calvey – Park Ridge Organics