Last Week a Great Week for Crop Growth
Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 -- 10:39 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Conditions were excellent for crop growth and pollination last week, with plenty of sun and daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s.Thunderstorms around the state also brought needed moisture, according to the Wisconsin Ag Statistics' weekly crop report. In many areas, fields were reportedly uneven and showed large variations in crop development and condition. Farmers were combining small grains and baling straw where fields were dry enough. Topsoil moisture levels was rated one percent very short, seven percent short, 80 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. As of Sunday, about 72 percent of the corn crop was silking, which is two weeks behind last year and 11 days off the five-year average. Fourteen percent of corn has reached the dough stage, with 63 percent considered to be in good to excellent condition. About three-fourths of the soybeans are now blooming. That's also 15 days behind last year and two full weeks slower than normal.
Exactly half the crop is setting pods and 66 percent of the beans are rated good to excellent. Nearly all of the winter wheat acres were coloring. Farmer says 69 percent of the crop is now harvested. Ninety-eight percent of oats had headed and 87 percent coloring or beyond. Harvest remains below last year's progress at 71 percent. And the second cutting of alfalfa hay was reported as 93 percent complete, with third crop now 42 percent off the ground.
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