Wisconsin had 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork statewide for the week ending August 4, 2024, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. A warm and mostly dry week allowed for advancements in row crop development and small grain harvesting. Timely rain in areas helped growth of crops and pasture.
Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 82 percent adequate and 12 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 16 percent surplus.
How Crops Are Looking
Corn silking was 72 percent, 1 day behind both last year and the 5-year average. Corn in the dough stage reached 24 percent. Corn condition was rated 61 percent good to excellent, down 1 percentage point from last week.
Eighty-one percent of the soybean crop was blooming, 1 day behind both last year and the average. Forty-nine percent of soybeans were setting pods. Soybean condition remained at 60 percent good to excellent.
Oats coloring was at 91 percent and forty-five percent of the oat for grain crop had been harvested, 3 days ahead of last year and 6 days ahead of average. Oat condition remained at 79 percent good to excellent.
Winter wheat harvested for grain was 86 percent complete, 8 days ahead of last year and 9 days ahead of the average.
The second cutting of alfalfa hay was 92 percent complete. The third cutting was 48 percent complete, two days behind last year but one day ahead of average. All hay condition increased to 80 percent good to excellent, up 2 percentage points from last week.
Potato harvest was 13 percent complete. Potato condition increased to 91 percent good to excellent, up
1 percentage point from last week. Pasture and range condition increased to 74 percent good to excellent, up 4 percentage points from last week.
