FARMERS WAIT TO GET IN THE FIELDS
Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 -- 10:16 AM
What a difference a year makes.After a beautiful early spring last year that saw farmers getting out in the fields for tillage and planting, it?s still anyone?s guess when field work will begin this year.
"2010 was probably the exception to the rule. We had small grains in the ground all ready," says UW-Extension Crops and Soils agent Richard Halopka. "This year, we're back to more of the traditions, or even a later spring. The temperature doesn't want to get away from the single digits."
Some folks in extreme southern Wisconsin may have a bit of field work done, but no one does around here, he says.
Not only is there still snow on the fields, but there?s saturated soil out there, as well.
"They're talking some gradual warm-ups. The benefit of having a colder spring is we're slowing down those melting events and the possibility of flooding," he says. "Compared to last year when we had dry soil over winter, we're going to have to get that water peculated through that soil and warmed up enough so we can get some tillage and planting started."
While it seems like this winter is lasting forever, it?s not too far from normal. Anecdotally, Halopka says field work usually begins in late April or early May.
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