News
Frost and rain affecting Wisconsin’s crops
Wisconsin farmers continued to deal with weather issues last week. USDA reporters say northern and central Wisconsin saw the first frost of 2020, while frequent rains kept farmers out of southern Wisconsin field. Several reporters say the rains from last week through Sunday recharged soil moisture levels after several weeks of dry conditions.
Wisconsin received from a quarter of an inch of rain in the far northwest, one-to-three inches in most of the state, and as high as six inches last week in far southwestern Wisconsin and along the Illinois border.
USDA says corn and soybeans are maturing quickly, corn silage chopping progressed where field conditions allowed, and many farmers are applying manure and seeding cover crops in recently cleared fields. The apple harvest is also in full swing.
USDA says 77% of Wisconsin’s corn is dented, and 26% is mature with the crop rated 78% good to excellent statewide. Seventy-three percent of soybeans are colored with 25% dropping leaves and 79% of the crop rated good to excellent.
The potato harvest is 47% finished, about five days ahead of average.
Winter wheat planting is now 33% complete.
Nearly 63% of the state’s fourth-cut alfalfa is finished statewide, with farmers in the west-central and southeast more than 70% finished.
