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Weekend rains likely too late for some Wisconsin crops

A southwestern Wisconsin farmer says a hot, dry end of July has tempered his expectations for his crops.

Mike Berget, who raises corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs in Lafayette and Green Counties, tells Brownfield, “We were just short of moisture, just driving through and checking the ears and I see some of these ears backed off, especially on the early corn.”  He says, “You’re not going to get that back. That’s gone.”

He says the heat has also impacted some soybean fields.

“Green County there’s been a lot of damage.”  He says, “The knolls and stuff are burnt up.  I think the early beans have already set their pods and probably lost some pods. Our later season beans I’m a little more hopeful for because we had anywhere from 2 inches to 4 inches of rain here Friday and Saturday.”

Statewide, the USDA says 72% of Wisconsin corn is in good to excellent condition with 72% silking and 16% in the dough stage, while 70% of soybeans are in good condition with 86% blooming, and 53% setting pods.  Forty-one percent of oats are harvested with 77% rated good to excellent.

AUDIO: Mike Berget – Wisconsin farmer