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Better weather allowed most Wisconsin farmers to resume harvesting

Farmers used last week’s drier weather to resume harvesting.  One of them is Wisconsin Corn Growers President Doug Rebout, who tells Brownfield yields look good.  “Down around the Janesville area, our ten-year average is 185 bushels per acre and so far this year we’re averaging 220 bushels on corn, so it’s phenomenal this year.”

Rebout says his soybean yield is around 60 bushels an acre, or about 10 bushels above his ten-year average, but the wetness has made it difficult to get them harvested.

Dan Meyer farms in Manitowoc County.  He says, “I think pretty much everything is going across the state right now.  We’re harvesting hay right now on our own farm.  Our high-moisture corn is done, which is the corn we put in the silo for the cows.  Our corn silage is done.  We just started soybeans a couple of days ago and yields look pretty solid, and corn yields look pretty good as well.”

USDA officials say the harvest was able to continue in much of Wisconsin last week.  As of Sunday, soils were still highly saturated around the state, but conditions allowed fieldwork to proceed except in low spots.  Many farmers say they’re having problems with high moisture in the crops.

Corn harvest for grain is now 31% finished.  Even with the wet conditions during the last couple of weeks, that’s 11 days ahead of last year and about 70% of the crop is in good to excellent condition.  The soybean harvest is 36% done and 71% is in good to excellent condition.  Growers in Manitowoc County are reporting yields ranging from 55 to 70 bushels per acre.

Last week’s improved weather allowed potato growers to catch up.  Now, USDA says 91% of the crop is in.

Three-quarters of the state’s winter wheat is planted, which is about a week behind last year.  Several farmers cut a fourth crop of alfalfa and many have started fall tillage, with about 20% of the tillage completed.

Northern counties report pasture conditions are rapidly deteriorating.