News

Cool temps continue, but Wisconsin is starting to dry out

Wisconsin farmers continued to battle cool weather but they made some planting progress.  USDA reporters say many farmers planted last week in areas previously too wet to enter. 

Emerged crops were far behind in development and many showed stress from high moisture.

Wisconsin’s first crop of alfalfa is mostly done, but many producers chopped the hay or bagged it for haylage because there were not enough dry days to bale it.  USDA reporters also say the alfalfa fields were in much worse condition than they appeared to be in a few weeks ago. 

There are several areas of the state reporting more prevented plant acres for corn and soybeans and many concerns about the lack of forage for livestock.

Corn planting is 93% finished with 81% emerged.  Soybean planting is 88% done, with 68% of the beans emerging. 

Sixty-nine percent of Wisconsin’s winter wheat has headed and 91% of the oats have emerged.

Potatoes improved in condition with 83% now good to excellent.