Wisconsin Ag Connection - Spring Has Sprung in Certain Parts of State

Wisconsin Ag News Headlines

Spring Has Sprung in Certain Parts of State
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/22/2008

Wet fields were still delaying spring fieldwork in most of Wisconsin last week, but there were reports of some fields being worked up for pea and potato planting in a couple of counties. On Monday, the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service issued its second weekly crop/weather report of the season, which indicated that soil conditions were at 56 percent adequate and 43 percent surplus.

Crop reporters say very few Oats have been planted, but was estimated at three percent. Winter temperatures have kept the soil cold, with a report of some frost still remaining in the ground in the northern part of the state. Spring tillage was very slow due to wet field conditions. There was still snow being reported on some fields in northern areas of the state.

Alfalfa and winter wheat conditions continue to vary across the state with a report of winterkill in areas where heavier rains left standing water. Most reporters stated that it was still too early to tell the extent of any winterkill, with a North Central county reporting that alfalfa has not broken dormancy and a Southwest county reporting that it is still too cold for alfalfa. However, a Southeast county reported alfalfa at two inches tall and looking good. Winter wheat seems to have come through the winter in good condition and is slowly greening up.

Manure hauling and spreading was reported as being the main activity at this time due to standing and running water in many fields. There also was some moving of round bales of hay and one report of small grains planted in the Southwest.

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