News

Wisconsin harvest picks back up after wet week

A western Wisconsin farmer says there are still a lot of fields to combine before harvest is finished.

Tony Mellenthin tells Brownfield, “We’re making good progress on the corn. We still have some soybeans left in the field.”

Mellenthin farms near Menomonie and says he and other nearby farmers need a few days of appropriate weather to get the soybeans wrapped up, but that’s been hard to get. 

Mellenthin says his corn has shown signs of weakness in the stalks, but so far, it’s still standing. “You know, when you go out and hand-check fields and do the push test, you can find quite a few fields where there’s concern, but between harvesting those early and the weather we’ve had, I do not see any fields where the stalks are giving away and the corn is falling over.”

Mellenthin says he was expecting a ding in production because of the dry summer, but yields have been a pleasant surprise. “I would say we are average or so, maybe above average depending on your soil type, but much, much better than feared back in July.”

Mellenthin says the rain from a week ago had him harvesting on lighter soil Monday, but he says the heavier soils have firmed up enough for the combine.  Now, he’s hoping the corn and soybeans can dry down before harvesting.