All Though Still Behind, Wisconsin's Crops are Doing Better
Tuesday, July 16th, 2019 -- 8:43 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -A second week of summer like weather conditions helped dry out farm fields and aided in crop development.The Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service released its weekly crop progress report on Monday, stating that many fields are now dry enough to bale hay and apply nitrogen and fertilizer. Topsoil moisture levels were rated eight percent short, 77 percent adequate and 15 percent surplus. All but three percent of the corn crop is now emerged, with a very small amount already reaching the silking stage. Though progress is still several weeks behind schedule, 60 percent of the state's corn is considered to be in good to excellent condition. Ninety eight percent of the soybeans were planted as of this past weekend, with 94 percent emerged. That's also 21 days behind both last year and the five average. So far, seven percent of the soybean plants have bloomed and 64 percent of the crop is good to excellent.
Winter wheat was 93 percent headed, 12 days slower than 2018's progress. More than two-thirds of the wheat fields were coloring. Twenty percent of oats had colored, which is 12 days slower than last year and 11 days behind the average. And the first crop of alfalfa was 96 percent complete. Farmers also have 45 percent of the second crop harvested, which is nearly two weeks later than usual for mid-July. Just less than half the hay is rated good to excellent in Wisconsin fields.
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