The Rain Stops for Wisconsin Farmers, But Snow Takes Its Place
Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 -- 9:39 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Now that the rain has finally stopped, farmers in the Badger State faced a new set of challenges while trying to get their crops in last week: SNOW!According to the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service's weekly crop report, farmers in the southern and eastern parts of the state saw between 3-8 inches of snow by last Thursday afternoon. Temperatures were also well below normal, which helped dry saturated grounds. Topsoil moisture levels were still 63 percent adequate and 37 percent surplus. As of Sunday, 83 percent of the corn crop was reported mature, four full weeks behind last year and 19 days slower than the five-year average. About one-fifth of the corn for grain has been harvested, which is also several weeks behind normal. Farmers who chop corn for silage say 88 percent of that crop is now off the fields.
Plants were dropping leaves on 95 percent of the soybeans as of last week. So far, farmers have 62 percent of the crop through the combine, which is less than a week behind last year, but 12 days behind the average. Winter wheat was 75 percent planted, with emergence now at the half-way point. And some growers were able to use part of their week to chip away at their fall tillage plans, which the report estimates the progress at 25 percent complete.
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