Wisconsin Farmers Faced a Challenging Week for Fieldwork Last Week

Wednesday, June 19th, 2024 -- 9:00 AM

(Blake Jackson, Wisconsin Ag Connection) Wisconsin farmers faced a challenging week for fieldwork (June 9th-16th) despite drier conditions than previous weeks.

According to Blake Jackson with the Wisconsin Ag Connection, with 4.2 suitable workdays, rain and wet fields continued to hamper progress. Activities included harvesting hay, chopping silage, planting crops, fertilizing, and spreading manure when possible.

Soil moisture is favorable with adequate to surplus levels across the state. Corn planting is nearly complete at 93%, but emergence lags behind average at 84%. Corn health remains mostly good. Soybean planting is also nearly finished (93%), with emergence slightly ahead of average at 83%.

However, soybean health dipped slightly compared to last week. Oat planting reached near completion (98%), with emergence at 90% and 32% of the crop heading out. Oat health improved significantly to 83% good to excellent.

Winter wheat is mostly headed (92%), but coloring is just beginning. Wheat health declined slightly to 84% good to excellent. Spring tillage nears completion at 97%, while the first alfalfa hay cutting reached 78% complete.

Overall hay health dipped to 73% good to excellent. Potato health improved to 93% good to excellent, while pasture and range conditions declined slightly to 72% good to excellent.

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