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Last week’s rain and sloppy snow helped soil moisture levels

Last week’s weather was not good for fieldwork, but the rain and snow was welcomed by farmers who were concerned about very dry soil conditions.

USDA reporters says barely half of one day was suitable for fieldwork in the week ending Sunday because of the snow and rain.  Statistician Greg Bussler says there was some limited spring tillage, but only where farmers could access fields and there were a few reports of alfalfa starting to grow.

Spring tillage is just 5% finished and about two days ahead of average, but southwestern Wisconsin has about 15% of the tillage done.

Pasture and range conditions are 4% excellent, 21% good, and 45% fair with 16% reported as poor.

Oat planting is 4% complete.

Winter wheat is reported as 11% excellent condition, 61% good, 24% fair, and 3% poor.

The topsoil moisture levels improved with 18% of the state reporting excess topsoil moisture and 62% adequate with 13% short and 7 % very short of moisture.  Subsoil moisture is reported as 10% with surplus, 59% adequate, and 22% short.