Good News-Bad News Scenario in Wisconsin's Farm Fields

Tuesday, August 9th, 2022 -- 9:00 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) It's a good news-bad news scenario playing out in Wisconsin farm fields this summer.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, the weather has been very cooperative for accomplishing fieldwork, but the lack of rain in certain areas of the state is causing some stress on the corn and soybeans.

The latest crop/weather report from the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service showed that topsoil moisture condition levels are rated five percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate and four percent surplus.

As of Sunday, about 77 percent of the corn was silking. That remains over a week behind the same time last year and three days slower than the five-year average. Twenty percent of the crop had reached the dough stage. Reporters put the corn at 76 percent good to excellent statewide, down slightly from a week ago.

All but 13 percent of the soybeans were blooming, also a week behind 2021, but even with other years. Over half of the beans are setting pods and 74 percent of the fields look to be good to excellent.

Farmers have 30 percent of their oats off the fields, five days behind last year and three days behind the average. Winter wheat harvested for grain was 76 percent complete, also seven days off of last year's progress.

The second cutting of alfalfa is nearly finished and growers have 62 percent of the third crop harvested. The hay was reported 78 percent good to excellent condition, up slightly from the previous week.

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