Wisconsin farmers saw about 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork last week, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. That gave producers a chance to start rolling with both corn and soybean harvests.
Topsoil moisture was reported as 76 percent adequate, with just a small share rated short or very short. Subsoil moisture looked similar.
Corn is moving along, though a bit behind schedule. About 97 percent of fields have reached the dough stage, 82 percent are dented, and 28 percent are mature, running three days behind last year and five days off the five-year average. Overall, corn condition held steady at 81 percent good to excellent, while silage harvest reached 41 percent.
Soybeans are also showing progress. Eighty-two percent of fields have turned color, and nearly half are dropping leaves. That’s a few days behind last year’s pace, but right on track with average. Soybean condition was rated 80 percent good to excellent, just a notch lower than last week.
Elsewhere, the potato harvest is 65 percent complete. Winter wheat seeding reached 29 percent, slightly behind normal, with 10 percent already emerged. The fourth cutting of alfalfa hay is nearly wrapped up at 85 percent, running ahead of last year and the average.
Pasture and range conditions slipped some, now rated 63 percent good to excellent, down five points from a week ago.
