Despite a warm weekend, cool and wet conditions earlier in the week kept equipment out of the fields throughout most of the state. Scattered corn planting was reported in eastern and southern Wisconsin. Field activities included plowing lighter soils, readying equipment, limited alfalfa planting, oat seeding, manure hauling, and fertilizer application. The Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA shares details on how things are looking.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 9 percent very short, 15 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 10 percent very short, 22 percent short, 60 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus.
Oat planting progress was 10 percent complete, 5 days ahead of last year and 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. Potato planting has begun and was 11 percent complete. This was 6 days ahead of last year and the average.
Spring tillage was 12 percent complete, 1 week ahead of last year and 3 days ahead of average.
Winter wheat condition was 1 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 65 percent good and 13 percent excellent.
Pasture and range condition was 8 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 44 percent fair, 26 percent good and 6 percent excellent.
