Wisconsin Farmers Do Their Best in the Fields Even When Mother Nature Doesn't Cooperate
Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 -- 8:42 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -It wasn't perfect, but farmers in Wisconsin took every opportunity they could get to work in the fields last week.The latest crop/weather summary stated that showers rolled through some part of the state nearly every day this past week; and when it wasn't raining, overcast skies and cooler temperatures made it difficult for crop development or making dry hay. The Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service also said dairy and and livestock producers may continue seeding late corn for silage or switch to alternate forage crops. Topsoil moisture levels were still entirely in the adequate to surplus range, with no areas of the state short of moisture. As of Sunday, 93 percent of the spring tillage was complete across the state. Farmers report that all but 13 percent of the corn is now planted, more than two weeks behind last year and the five-year average.
Fortunately, 66 percent of the crop is now emerged, and over half the seedlings are looking good to excellent. In the soybean fields, 77 percent of the crop is in the ground. That's also 14 days slower than 2018 and 15 days behind the average. Emergence is well behind schedule, due to major planting delays. Winter wheat was 48 percent headed and oats are nine percent headed in state farm fields. And farmers have already cut 60 percent of their first crop of alfalfa. The report noted that only 37 percent of the hay is considered to be in good to excellent condition.
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