News

June rains benefitting Wisconsin crops

A southeastern Wisconsin farmer says a rainy June has just been what his crops needed.

Casey Kelleher, who grows corn and soybeans in Jefferson County, says the dry month of May slowed crop development in his area.

“We only had 2-tenths in May, so this June rain really helped.”  He says, “It got so dry that there’s some spotty stands. After we had that rain in June, some actually have emerged. It kind of looks like we were out replanting, but it was only planted once. There’s just some taller beans and some shorter beans.”

He tells Brownfield he’s been focused on managing weeds.

“We gambled.”  He says, “It was a little early, but I’m glad we did it because there’s still a couple fields here that would be too wet to spray, and now the corn’s getting tall enough where you’d have to totally change your chemical program because you’d be getting off label. So, our gamble pulled and everything looks pretty good.”

Statewide, the USDA says 81% of Wisconsin corn is in good to excellent condition, with 97% emerged.  Seventy-nine percent of soybeans are in good condition with 1% blooming.  Fifty-one percent of the state’s oats are headed with 82% rated good to excellent.

AUDIO: Casey Kelleher – Wisconsin farmer