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Farmer thankful for irrigation this year

A central Wisconsin farmer appreciates the ability to irrigate crops this summer.   Ken Feltz and his family operate 700 acres and milk 700 cows to supply their on-farm dairy store.  He says it’s been a very dry summer. “Without irrigation, the crops would be pretty, pretty bad.”

Feltz has a half alfalfa – half corn silage rotation in Wisconsin’s central sands region near Plover, and he’s expecting to use more irrigation next week with the expected heat wave. “I think corn silage will be a couple of weeks out yet. You know, growing degree units, we’re quite a ways ahead this year so with the heat coming this weekend, we’re lucky that we have irrigation and that we can keep it alive a little bit longer.”

Feltz says he’s expecting to harvest corn silage in about two weeks, but the heat might move that schedule up some.

Audio: Ken Feltz, Feltz Family Farm and Feltz Dairy Store