Late Week Storms Prevent Some Work in Wisconsin's Farm Fields Last Week

Thursday, August 14th, 2025 -- 8:00 AM

(Blake Jackson, Wisconsin Ag Connection) For the week ending August 10, 2025, Wisconsin farmers experienced 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

According to Blake Jackson with the Wisconsin Ag Connection, weather conditions were generally favorable until storms arrived late in the week. Topsoil moisture was reported as 1% very short, 12% short, 76% adequate, and 11% surplus.

Subsoil moisture stood at 1% very short, 12% short, 79% adequate, and 8% surplus. Corn progress continued with 90% of fields silking. The dough stage reached 36%, running one day ahead of last year but a day behind the five-year average.

About 5% of the crop had reached the dent stage. Overall, corn condition held steady at 81% good to excellent. Soybeans were also advancing, with 90% blooming and 73% setting pods four days ahead of last year and three days ahead of the average.

Soybean condition remained at 81% good to excellent. Winter wheat harvest was 89% complete, three days behind last year but two days ahead of the average. Oats were 97% coloring and 56% harvested, matching last year’s pace but three days ahead of average. Oat condition slipped slightly to 82% good to excellent.

Potato harvest reached 20%, with crop condition at 95% good to excellent, a one-point decline from the previous week. Alfalfa hay’s third cutting stood at 72% complete, three days ahead of both last year and the average, while the fourth cutting was 12% complete.

Hay quality rated 80% good to excellent, down two points. Pasture and rangeland conditions were rated 71% good to excellent, a four-point drop from the week before, reflecting the impact of late-week storms and shifting moisture levels across the state.

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