News

Wisconsin farmers deal with cold weather on emerging crops

Farmers in Wisconsin had a near-perfect week for fieldwork, but several cold nights.

USDA reporters say the soil moisture as excellent for planting in most areas, and progress planting small grains, corn, soybeans, and potatoes was ahead of both the average and last year.

Spring tillage is 79% finished and manure spreading continued last week at a rapid pace.

Corn planting is 59% complete.  Soybeans are 35% planted.  Oats are 74% planted.  Potato planting is 67% complete.

Cold weather had producers worried about frost killing emerging plants.  Overnight lows fell into the 20s and there were multiple touches of frost this week, prompting concern for budding orchards and cranberry bogs.

Eight percent of the corn had emerged before the frosty weather arrived, and there are social media reports about the emerging plants being killed and some replanting might be necessary.