News

Wisconsin farmers continue dealing with rain

Wisconsin farmers had to dodge showers last week to get some field work and planting done.  USDA reporters say showers were found in some part of Wisconsin every day last week. 

Spring tillage is now 99% finished, and corn planting is 87% finished.  Corn emergence is around 66%, about 16 days behind average.  Seventy percent of the state’s soybeans are planted with 47% emerged, 14 days behind average.  Oats are now 80% emerged.

First-cut alfalfa hay progress ranges from 22% cut in the North Central part of Wisconsin to 73% cut in Southwestern Wisconsin.  Hay yields are considerably lower than usual, and many farmers are planting alternative forage crops after losing many acres of alfalfa to winterkill.

Several areas of the state report crops planted a month ago are barely a few inches high, and there are more reports of farmers taking prevented planting on the balance of their unplanted acres.

In the central sands area, USDA reporters say potatoes, snap beans, and peas look good but sweet corn is only in fair condition.