News

Wisconsin crops good, but rain preventing optimum hay timing

A west central Wisconsin farmer says he could use a break from the rain to get his haying done.

Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden tells Brownfield he’s seen a lot of weekend rain in the Westby area, which delayed his third-crop alfalfa harvest. “We wanted to cut on Saturday, but with the rain in the forecast for yesterday, and we got some rain last night, and today, it’s a good thing we didn’t cut.”

USDA reporters say only 4.8 days were suitable for fieldwork in the week ending Sunday, with many producers struggling to get into fields while hay is at optimal nutritional value.  Overall, 82% of third-crop hay is harvested in Wisconsin, with 81% of the crop in good to excellent condition.  Eighteen percent of fourth-crop hay is also done.

Von Ruden says some farms in his area harvested third crop about ten days ago and the fourth crop is already about six inches tall.

Ninety-three percent of Wisconsin’s soybeans are blooming with 81% setting pods, a day ahead of average.  Eighty-two percent of the soybeans are in good to excellent condition.  Von Ruden says his soybeans look very good, especially the early-planted beans. “We have some soybean in the area here that are probably three foot plus, I would say. Then, we’ve got some of the later planted beans that are probably only two feet or so, but some of that first stuff that got in early is looking like some nice beans this year.”

USDA says Ninety-five percent of Wisconsin’s corn is silking with 54% reaching the dough stage.  Fifteen percent of the corn is dented.  Eighty-two percent of the state’s corn is rated good to excellent.

And Von Ruden says most of the corn looks good, but there have been pest and weather issues. “We’ve had a few different spots of army worms around the area here, and then a week ago Saturday, we had a windstorm that laid down some of our neighbor’s corn.”

USDA is projecting Wisconsin to have a record corn harvest this fall.

Ninety-four percent of Wisconsin’s winter wheat, 72% of the oats, and 26% of the potatoes have been harvested.