News

Wisconsin crops need more rain

The USDA says scattered storms helped improve Wisconsin’s crop conditions, especially in the northern part of the state last week.

Statistician Greg Bussler says topsoil moisture levels remain low, with 32% of the state very short on moisture, 39% short, and 29% adequate.  Subsoil moisture levels are similar.

Just 44% of Wisconsin’s corn is in good to excellent condition, but that’s 2% better than last week.

Eight percent of the state’s soybeans are blooming, which is 3 days behind average.  The overall soybean condition went down 5% with only 40% of the crop reported as good to excellent.

Seventy-seven percent of the oats have headed, which is five days ahead of the average.  Thirty-three percent of the oats are coloring.  Forty-nine percent of the oats are in good to excellent condition, up 4% from a week ago.

Winter wheat is 97% headed and 62% are coloring, with 59% of the crop rated good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay is 44% finished, about four days ahead of the average.  The all-hay condition is 42% good to excellent, slightly better than a week ago.