News

Wetness slowing Wisconsin field progress

Most Wisconsin farmers are waiting for the land to dry out before attempting any fieldwork.

One of them is Darin Von Ruden, Wisconsin’s Farmers Union President, who farms near Cashton in the driftless region. He tells Brownfield, “We’ve gotten more than enough moisture over the last two to three weeks that we’re probably looking at a good week before we get dried out, unless it stays windy and the sun gets warmer.”

Von Ruden says many fields have standing water, so manure application and spring tillage is still a ways off. “About the only tillage I’ve seen has been the Amish farmers around that can get in a little sooner. They’ve got some oats that are actually out of the ground already, but as far as the rest of us, we’re still in that holding and waiting mode.”

Von Ruden says last week’s storms also brought some flooding and inch-and-a-half hail, which caused significant building and vehicle damage in his area.

USDA’s crop progress report for Wisconsin shows only one day was suitable for fieldwork in the week ending Sunday, but most of the state was too wet to take advantage of it.  Fifty-two percent of the state’s topsoil has surplus moisture, and 47% has adequate moisture.  Corn planting is stalled at 1% complete.  Oat planting is 5% finished compared to the five-year average of 16%.  The southwestern and south-central areas have more oats planted, with 10% and 12%, respectively.  Spring tillage is also way behind average, with only 9% finished.

USDA reporters say 7% of Wisconsin’s winter wheat is in excellent condition, with 42% reported as good and 40% rated fair. 

Most Wisconsin pasture land is rated good to fair.