Wisconsin Farmers See Best Week in Over a Month for Field Work

Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 -- 9:02 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Farmers had one of the best weeks in over a month to make progress with their spring tillage and planting duties, but growers say the fields can definitely use a little rain.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, that's according to the latest crop/weather report from the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service, temperatures were below normal during the past week, with hard freezes reported in northern Wisconsin at the beginning of the week.

Scattered light rain over the weekend dropped less than a quarter inch in the majority of the state. Topsoil moisture levels were rated 15 percent very short, 28 percent short, 55 percent adequate and two percent surplus.

As of Sunday, about 78 percent of the corn has been planted statewide. That's even with last year, but 11 days ahead of the five-year average. Twenty-four percent of corn has now emerged, which is three days better than last year and five days ahead of the average.

Nearly two-thirds of the soybeans have been planted--two days ahead of the 2020 progress and 13 days ahead of the norm. All but eight percent of the oats are seeded and 68 percent is now emerged.

And spring tillage is reported 93 percent complete, four days ahead of last year and 18 days further along than usual.

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