Heavy rain across much of the state last week improved soil moisture and pasture conditions. Pasture condition was rated 25 good to excellent statewide, up 3 percent from last week.
But the precipitation also hindered fieldwork. Farmers did have an average of three days to harvest corn for grain and silage, plant winter wheat, and cut hay, according to the latest crop progress report from USDA.
Ninety-two percent of the corn crop was dented. Fifty-nine percent of the corn crop was mature, a day behind last year and a day behind the 5-year average. The corn for grain harvest was 5 percent complete. Corn condition was 50 percent good to excellent, up 1 percent from last week.
Corn for silage harvest was 68 percent complete, five days ahead of last year and a day ahead of the average.
Soybeans coloring was at 94 percent. Seventy-one percent of soybeans are dropping leaves, a day behind last year and two days behind the average. Soybean condition was 49 percent good to excellent, equal to last week.
Fifty percent of the winter wheat crop has been planted, a day behind last year but a day ahead of average. Twenty-nine percent of the winter wheat crop has emerged.
Seventy-two percent of the potato crop has been harvested, five days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the average.
The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 92 percent complete, two days behind last year but 15 days ahead of the average.
Fall tillage was 7 percent complete, a week behind last year and five days behind the average.
