News

Wet week around Wisconsin

Not a lot of progress in Wisconsin fields last week as persistent rain, some hail and a few tornadoes swept the state. Green Bay reported 2.2 inches of rain, Green County reports 5 to 7 inches, Trempealeau County had over 7, St. Croix and Fond du Lac Counties reporting 8 inches each. The Weekly Crop Progress Report from the National Ag Statistics Service Wisconsin Field Office says topsoil moisture jumped from 15 percent surplus a week ago to 39 percent surplus by last Sunday.

Temperatures were normal to 6 degrees above normal so things are growing nicely. The Wisconsin corn crop is 94 percent emerged and 79 percent in good to excellent condition. Waukesha County reports corn at 12 to 18 inches, Dane County reports 20 to 30 inches while Washburn has some standing 36 inches.

Soybeans are 96 percent planted, 90 percent emerged and 79 percent in good to excellent condition. Oats are 98 percent emerged with 33 percent heading, the crop is rated 87 percent good to excellent condition. Winter wheat is 81 percent headed with 71 percent in good to excellent condition.

First-crop alfalfa is 82 percent made, a 6-point improvement from a week ago. The rapid growth has the crop maturing quickly and losing quality. The second crop is growing nicely.

 

*John Perkins contributed to this story.