Crops Looking Good Across Wisconsin, Growers Say

A second straight week of good weather in Wisconsin is putting smiles on farmers, who report crops are mostly in good shape at the mid-point of the growing season.

The weekly crop progress report for the week ending July 12, from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, said there were 5.7 days (out of 7) suitable for fieldwork, just shy of the 5.9 days a week earlier.

The good weather allowed farmers to make hay and crops to mature at a pace far ahead of a year ago.

“The crops look excellent,” said a Juneau County report. “We’ve managed to avoid severe weather, and so far the crops are looking great.”

Severe weather Sunday night damaged some crops, but farmers were still assessing damages, the weekly report said.

The potato crop led the way in being in the best condition, with 95 percent of the crop rated as good to excellent.

Corn was 81 percent good to excellent, down a bit from a week ago, soybeans were 82 percent good to excellent, all hay was 83 percent good to excellent, oats were 84 percent good to excellent, pasture and range land were 81 percent good to excellent and winter wheat was 81 percent good to excellent.

The second cutting of alfalfa was 64 percent complete, the second-highest percentage by this date in more than 35 years.