Another warm, dry week pushed Wisconsin crops closer to maturity. The National Ag Statistics Service Wisconsin Field Office says the Badger State corn crop is now 66 percent dented, a 26-point increase from last week. That is still 11 percent behind the five year average. The crop is listed as 10 percent mature compared to 29 percent normally by this date. The dry conditions are pulling crop moisture down quickly prompting the choppers to start making corn silage. 12 percent of silage is in compared to 47 percent on this date usually.
Soybean leaves are now 72 percent turning color, ten percent behind average but some of the turning this year is due to the dry conditions. 24 percent of the plants are dropping leaves compared to 52 percent for the five-year average.
Soil moisture conditions are declining rapidly as well, two weeks ago nothing was listed in the “very short” category, this week 21 percent is rated very short, 51 percent short and 28 percent adequate. No districts have anything in the “surplus” category this week and most have 80 percent or more in the short to very short listing. Year-to-date precipitation ranges from a half-inch below normal in La Crosse to 8.8 inches short in Eau Claire.
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