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Slow and steady rain a welcome delay

A southwestern Wisconsin farmer is glad to see this week’s steady, light rain.  Darin Von Ruden farms in the hilly driftless region near Westby, and he says topsoil moisture is adequate, but subsoil levels are not good, so this week’s slow and steady rain is welcome. “We like those one-inch, 24-hour rains. They’re some of the best ones you can have.”

Von Ruden says he’s seen very little planting activity so far. “A couple of the bigger operators around here have put some corn in the ground, but a lot of fertilizer and anhydrous applications were going on Monday and Tuesday when it was dry around here.”

And, he says some nearby farmers have seen some early success with their small grains. “There’s neighbors that got their oats or barley, small grains in before that snow and stuff is up about an inch, inch -and-a-half already, starting to green the fields up.”

Along with growing crops and milking cows, Von Ruden is also Wisconsin’s Farmers Union President.