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Rain slowed Wisconsin’s harvest, except cranberries

Rain kept Wisconsin farmers out of the fields for much of the week, but it did help replenish soil moisture levels.  USDA says topsoil moisture is n ow rated 16% surplus, 71% adequate, 10% short, and 3% very short, with subsoil moisture at 8% surplus, 62% adequate, 23% short, and 7% very short.  Most of Wisconsin received at least one inch of rain last week, with a band across central Wisconsin receiving more than five inches of rain.

Ninety-six percent of the corn is mature with 35% of the corn for grain harvested as of Sunday.  The average moisture content was 23%, with 54% of the corn in good to excellent condition.

The soybean harvest is now 77% finished, two days ahead of average.

Ninety-seven percent of potatoes are harvested.

Fall tillage is about three days behind average with 36% of the work completed.

Tom Lochner with the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association tells Brownfield most of their growers are nearing the end of harvest. “There’s just a few growers going yet. I think overall, it was a pretty decent crop for Wisconsin. I think it was up a little bit from the estimates, but you know, closer to an average crop and maybe a little bit above.”

Lockner says they had some concern about water levels in reservoirs, but water levels improved with late August and September rains.