Warm and Dry Conditions Allow Continued Work in Wisconsin's Farm Fields

Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 -- 8:00 AM

(Blake Jackson, Wisconsin Ag Connection) According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Wisconsin experienced 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in the week ending October 6, 2024.

According to Blake Jackson with the Wisconsin Ag Connection, warm and dry conditions continued, aiding in the soybean harvest and the maturity of corn. However, soil moisture levels continued to decrease.

Farmers worked on harvesting soybeans, corn, cranberries, potatoes, and vegetables for processing, alongside tasks such as spreading manure, fall tillage, and planting winter wheat. Topsoil moisture was rated 16% very short, 39% short, 45% adequate, and 0% surplus.

Meanwhile, subsoil moisture was rated 11% very short, 35% short, 53% adequate, and 1% surplus. Corn in the dent stage reached 95%, with 70% of the crop mature just a day behind the previous year but a day ahead of the five-year average.

Corn for grain was 10% harvested, while 80% of the corn for silage was harvested, putting farmers a day ahead of last year and five days ahead of the average. The overall condition of the corn crop dropped slightly, with 61% rated as good to excellent.

Soybean progress showed 97% of crops had colored, and 90% of soybeans had dropped their leaves. The soybean harvest was 61% complete, placing farmers 12 days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the average.

Soybean condition also declined, with 59% rated as good to excellent 5 percentage points lower than the previous week. Winter wheat planting was 63% complete, slightly ahead of last year and the average, with 36% of the crop having already emerged.

92% of the alfalfa hay fourth cutting was finished, while 86% of the potato harvest was complete. Fall tillage progress stood at 22%, and pasture conditions were rated at 38% good to excellent, down 7% from the prior week.

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