News

Warm and wet conditions spurred Wisconsin crops

Last week’s warm temperatures and scattered showers were good for crop growth.

USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service says corn emergence was at 96% as of Sunday, with 76% of the crop in good to excellent condition.  That’s up 5% from a week ago.

Ninety-four percent of Wisconsin’s soybeans have emerged, and there are some scattered reports of soybeans blooming.  Seventy-three percent of the soybeans are rated good to excellent, up one point from last week.

First-crop alfalfa hay cutting is 90% finished, and there are some farmers already cutting second-crop alfalfa.  Hay condition is rated 78% good to excellent.

Pasture and range conditions are slightly worse than a week ago with 73% in good to excellent shape.  That’s down one percentage point from last week.

Oats range from 26% to 85% headed, with the most mature oats found in the southwest and southcentral parts of the state.

Winter wheat is also closer to harvesting in the southern part of the state, where nearly all of the southern Wisconsin wheat has headed.  Forty-eight percent of the wheat has colored in the southwest part of the state with about 25% colored across the Wisconsin side of the Illinois line.  Wheat fields in the northern and central regions are just beginning to color.

Wisconsin rainfall ranged from as little as a tenth of an inch near Eau Claire to more than four inches east of Janesville.  Topsoil moisture ratings are 10% surplus, 70 % adequate, and 19% short with similar subsoil conditions.  Farmers had just over four and a half days suitable for field work in the week ending Sunday.