The rain could not have come at a better time for some very dry farm fields across Wisconsin last week. The state's agriculture department said in Monday's weekly crop report that most of the precipitation fell across portions of northeastern Wisconsin, improving conditions for corn and soybeans there. Farmers also made progress in southern areas of the state, where most of the winter wheat harvest has been completed.
Topsoil moisture condition levels were rated two percent very short, 14 percent short, 77 percent adequate and seven percent surplus.
As of Sunday, 94 percent of the corn was silking. That's 10 days behind last year and two days behind the five-year average. Fifty-nine percent had reached the dough stage and 11 percent of the corn was in the dent state. Corn condition was 77 percent good to excellent statewide, down slightly from a week earlier.
In the soybean fields, 84 percent of the crop was setting pods--five days behind last year and just a day slower than average. The beans were 78 percent good to excellent, which was a slight improvement from last week.
Farmers have about two-thirds of the oats combined for grain. And the winter wheat harvest is 93 percent complete across the state.
The third cutting of alfalfa was reported at 87 percent complete, with fourth crop 12 percent chopped or baled. All hay condition was reported 80 percent good to excellent condition.
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Weather