Wisconsin’s Harvest Saw Huge Progress Last Week
Wisconsin had 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending October 18, 2020, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Chilly, windy conditions and spotty rains interrupted fieldwork in some areas this week. Overnight lows fell into the 20s on multiple nights with many reporters noting a killing frost. Areas of northern Wisconsin received up to 2 inches of snow on Saturday though it melted off quickly. Precipitation was welcome where received, helping germinate fall plantings and bulk up hay stands for the winter. The corn and soybean harvests made rapid progress in between precipitation events. Frosts and freezes helped to push late-planted corn toward maturity. Fall tillage and manure spreading continued. The potato harvest was nearing completion.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 5% very short, 17% short, 75% adequate and 3% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3% very short, 17% short, 76% adequate and 4% surplus.
Corn mature was 96%, over four weeks ahead of last year and 18 days ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest of corn for grain was 27% complete, 3 weeks ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of the average. The moisture
content of corn harvested for grain was reported at 21%. Corn condition rated 77% good to excellent statewide, down 2 percentage points from last week.
Soybeans dropping leaves was 98%, 25 days ahead of last year and a week ahead of the average. Soybean harvest was 72% complete, 24 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average.
Potato harvest was reported as 94% complete, 11 days ahead of last year and 4 days ahead of the average.
Winter wheat planted was 86% complete, more than 4 weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Sixty-five percent of winter wheat was emerged, more than 4 weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Winter wheat condition rated 77% good to excellent statewide, unchanged from last week.
Fourth cutting of alfalfa was reported as 96% complete, more than 4 weeks ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average.
Fall tillage was reported as 34% complete, 27 days ahead of last year and 10 days ahead of the average. Pasture condition rated 54% good to excellent
statewide, down 6 percentage points from last week.
Connecting farmers through music, Land Stewardship Projects commissions conservation songs
The Land Stewardship Project added a fresh tone to its conservation efforts.
The private nonprofit group based in Minnesota has been working with farmers since its foundation in 1982.
“We’ve been working really intensively on the whole notion of building soil health for both profitability factors and to be able to withstand bad weather,” Doug Nopar, bridge to soil health coordinator, said.
Part of that effort has been encouraging cover crops, no-till, and more intensive grazing. In the past, they’ve used workshops, field days, farm tours, and a soil builder’s network to educate and exchange ideas.
“We’re really trying to surround people with information and peer support from farmers,” Nopar said.
The nonprofit also utilizes videos and fact sheets, but Nopar said it is important to reach people on a more emotional level.
“Especially now with what the dairy has been going through, crop prices, beef prices, the weather, and the virus.”
The Land Stewardship Project turned their message into music. So, they collaborated with musician Bret Hesla to produce songs. Helsa took the task seriously and visited several farms in Minnesota to get a sense of what building soil was about in 2020 and why farmers are so committed to it.
“He very talented musically, and he was able to pull in an ad hoc band that he named “Six Feet Deep” referring to how deep we all love to have our topsoil,” Nopar said.
The first song, ‘Got Cover Crops’ was released on YouTube with an accompanying video.
“This fall is ideal for people to plant cover crops, and I’m seeing them planted all over Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin this year at a rate I’ve never seen before,” he said. “It will be fun to get this song out now.”
The next song that will be released this fall is called ‘Back to Soil.’
Nopar hoped the uplifting songs will help bring people together under a common goal since they cannot gather for in-person activities.
“It is really challenging,” he said. “Our work is really based on face-to-face interaction with farmers and coming together to share information with one another. People feel really isolated.”
They have started some digital events, but look forward to when they can come back together in person.
Transition to New Wisconsin State Hemp Plan Postponed; Current Pilot Program Extended
Today, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced that it has postponed the transition to the new Wisconsin State Hemp Plan. Instead of implementing the State Hemp Plan, the department will continue to administer the Wisconsin Hemp Pilot Research Program for another year.
On October 1, 2020, Congressional action extended the authority of states to operate hemp pilot research programs until September 30, 2021. Due to this action, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is in the process of extending the current hemp program operated under the authority of the 2014 Farm Bill to September 30, 2021. Under federal rules, the hemp pilot research program was scheduled to end on October 31. The recently signed H.R. 8337, the “Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extension Act”, allows states to extend their hemp pilot research programs until September 30, 2021.
Under state law (Wis. Stat. § 94.55), DATCP must regulate the Wisconsin hemp industry to the extent required under federal law and in a manner that allows the greatest opportunity to “plant, grow, cultivate, harvest, produce, sample, test, process, transport, transfer, take possession of, sell, import, and export hemp in this state to the greatest extent allowed under federal law.” DATCP has determined that the hemp research program currently provides the Wisconsin hemp industry the greatest opportunity at this time and has made the decision to continue implementing the state hemp program under the authority of the 2014 Farm Bill, instead of operating under the authority of 2018 Farm Bill and the federal Interim Final Rule. With support from Wisconsin’s hemp industry, DATCP continues to focus on ways to best serve and support the hemp grower and processor communities.
To ensure program continuity, DATCP must promulgate a new emergency rule in order to extend the current hemp program in Wisconsin. The new emergency rule will convert the current Pilot Program licenses and registrations to licenses and registrations under this continuing Hemp Program. This no-fee conversion will occur automatically without any action necessary by licensees. When available, more information about the emergency rule will be posted at https://hemp.wi.gov.
American Farm Bureau Going Virtual
We have made the decision to convert the 2021 American Farm Bureau Convention from an in-person to a virtual event.
Continue reading American Farm Bureau Going Virtual at Mid-West Farm Report.