News

Weather continues to delay Wisconsin fieldwork

Wisconsin farmers got a little corn planted before the rains started on Sunday.  The National Ag Statistics Service says 1 percent of the Badger State corn was in the ground by the end of last week, 9 points behind the five-year average.

Oats planting is 13 percent completed as of Sunday with 1 percent emerged.  Should be 47 percent planted and 18 percent emerged by now.

Spring tillage is 9 percent complete, a 5 point improvement over a week ago but well-behind the 33 percent average for this date.

The winter wheat is greening-up and 55 percent is rated good to excellent condition.

Top soil moisture was rated 62 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus as of Sunday.  With the forecast for below-normal temperatures and above-normal rainfall, things are not going to improve much this week.  As a reporter in Juneau County put it: “The cold, wet weather continues to frustrate everyone.”