Wisconsin Ag Connection - April Showers Continue to Delay Fieldwork

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April Showers Continue to Delay Fieldwork
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/29/2008

Got delays in your field work progress? You're not alone. Most areas of the state saw some sort of precipitation last week, with some snow-covered fields in northern Wisconsin counties and water-logged fields in many additional counties being reported. That's according to the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service, which released its third crop/weather report of the year on Monday.

The agency says there were some reports of corn in the ground, but these were by far the exception. Most farmers were not doing any kind of fieldwork due to the water-logged fields. The overall state total was one percent corn planted as of Sunday. Some oats have also been reported as being planted, with 16 of that crop now in the fields. Spring tillage has remained slow at nine percent complete.

Alfalfa and winter wheat conditions continue to vary across the state with reports of winterkill in poorly drained fields where ice remained in low areas. Winter wheat is looking very good. The few poor or very poor fields were reported as ones that were planted late in 2007 and did not get fully established before the cold weather. Another reporter stated that winterkill in alfalfa ranged from slight in some areas to severe in others.

Manure hauling and spreading have been reported as the main activities at this time. However, many manure pits are full and fields are too saturated to spread on.

Pea and potato planting was reported to be off to a slow start in one area due to wet conditions, while another area reported peas and potatoes going in fast. Some no-till seeding into pastures has begun. Apple trees look good and are just starting to show green tips. Maple sap was reported as being done running with it being quite a good season this spring.

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