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Dry week lends to Wisconsin harvest progress

A dry week and above average temperatures led to a lot of harvesting in Wisconsin last week.  USDA reporters say corn silage, apples, and vegetables were leaving the fields and orchards in the week ending Sunday.

Just north of the Wisconsin-Illinois line, Doug Rebout says corn silage is about done in his neighborhood, and he’s expecting more harvest activity this week. “We’re going to see a lot of combines start rolling and start gettingthose soybeans off the field. Corn is still going to be out a little ways because it’s just not drying down with the wet year we’ve had.”

Farmer and State Representative Travis Tranel from Cuba City says he and many neighbors have been busy in the fields. “People are going after high-moisture corn. Most of the chopping, corn silage has been made and snaplage has been made. A few people are starting to cut fifth-crop hay. Foder is starting to be made.”

Tranel says some winter wheat and triticale will be going in the ground soon.  As for this year’s corn crop, “Speaking for myself personally, this is the best corn crop I’ve ever grown in my life. I think there are a lot of people that feel that way. It’s too bad it’s not worth anything.”

Ninety-three percent of Wisconsin’s corn has reached the dent stage, with 49% mature.

Near Green Bay, dairy farmer Raymond Dietrich tells Brownfield they haven’t started harvesting corn silage yet. “The corn looks really good. It’s a little bit high in moisture yet. We’re figuring another week yet and then we’ll be good to go.”

Dietrich says he’s expecting very good yields. “The crops look good. Boy, I tell you, we’re going to have twice as much corn silage as last year but we haven’t got it on the pile yet so I don’t like to brag too much yet.”

Soybean coloring has reached 94% with 70% of the crop dropping leaves.  Six percent of the crop has been harvested.

Seventy-two percent of the potatoes are now dug.  Forty-three percent of winter wheat has been seeded.  Fourth-cut alfalfa is 90% finished, and several farmers were able to get a fifth crop this year.