News

Wisconsin’s potato and oat planting progress good

Wisconsin farmers were able to get a lot of field work done in the week ending Sunday.  USDA statistician Greg Busler says the wet and cool conditions continued to delay significant row crop planting in the state, but farmers were preparing equipment, getting some spring tillage done, and planting potatoes, oats, and alfalfa.  There was also a lot of manure hauling and fertilizer application getting done in Wisconsin last week.

There was some scattered corn and soybean planting in southern Wisconsin last week.

Potato planting is 25% finished, and about five days ahead of average.

Oat planting is 19% complete with 7% of the crop emerging.  The majority of the oats planting was done in the southwestern and southern parts of the state.

Eighty-two percent of the state’s winter wheat is considered good to excellent, four percentage points better than last week.

Pasture and range conditions also improved last week, with 37% now good to excellent.

Topsoil moisture levels are 10% surplus, 69% adequate, and 16% short.  Subsoil moisture is rated 8% surplus, 64% adequate, and 23% short.