Most of Wisconsin was experiencing a very dry early start to August before showers hit most of the state on Saturday and Sunday. The state's agriculture department noted in its weekly crop/progress report that temperatures were normal to slightly below normal last week. Only the far north and far south received below normal precipitation over the weekend.
Topsoil moisture conditions were rated eight percent very short, 16 percent short, 66 percent adequate and 10 percent surplus.
As of Sunday, all but eight percent of the corn was silking and 42 percent was in the dough stage. The statewide corn condition was rated 77 percent good to excellent, two percentage points above last week.
Soybeans are reportedly 94 percent blooming and 73 percent of the crop is setting pods. Soybeans were 74 percent good to excellent, also two percentage points better than a week earlier.
Farmers have 39 percent of the oats through the combine and 89 percent of the winter wheat harvested.
The third cutting of alfalfa hay is 63 percent complete, which is four days ahead of both last year and the five-year average. There were scattered reports of farmers beginning the fourth cutting.
Categories: Wisconsin, Weather