Wisconsin Ag Connection - Crop Report: Memorial Day Weekend Brings Surge of Summer

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Crop Report: Memorial Day Weekend Brings Surge of Summer
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 05/27/2020

With spring tillage all but four percent complete, farmers raced toward the finish line during the past week to wrap up their planting activity and prepare for the first crop hay harvest. According to the latest Wisconsin Crop Progress & Condition report, fieldwork in the eastern half of the state did not progress as quickly as other areas because fields were still drying out after recent heavy rains. Hay stands bulked up with warmer conditions, though reporters noted that winterkill varied widely from field to field.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated one percent very short, six percent short, 74 percent adequate and 19 percent surplus.

As of Sunday, 90 percent of the corn crop was in the ground--a whopping 26 days ahead of last year and nearly two weeks better than the five-year average. Forty-five percent of the crop had emerged, which is also slightly ahead of normal.

Soybean planting was 79 percent complete. That was 24 days ahead of the same week in 2019 and 13 days ahead of average. About a quarter of the beans have already sprouted.

Farmers have 93 percent of the oats in with 75 percent emerged. Reporters say the crop is 79 percent good to excellent statewide.

And some of the winter wheat is beginning to head in southern Wisconsin areas and looking 73 percent good to excellent.

Meanwhile, just over half the hay fields are in excellent condition--slightly better than last week's report.

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