Wisconsin Ag Connection - Knee High by the Fourth of July? Oh, Yeah!

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Knee High by the Fourth of July? Oh, Yeah!
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/07/2020

It doesn't take a group of statewide crop reporters to realize that the growing season is off to a great start in Wisconsin. But their weekly summary does show some excellent progress in the fields. On Monday, the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service noted that the hot and humid weather coupled with adequate soil moisture last week helped corn and soybeans increase in height. There was also a lot of progress in the hay fields as most farmers are well into their second crop harvest.

Topsoil moisture levels were rated two percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate and seven percent surplus.

As of Sunday, two percent of the corn was silking--10 days ahead of last year and two days better than the five-year average. The crop was rated 79 percent good to excellent, which is a slight improvement from the prior week.

About 40 percent of the soybeans were blooming as of the Independence Day weekend, 20 days ahead of the 2019 growing season and 11 days ahead of normal. Some of the beans are setting pods.

In the oat fields, 85 percent of the crop was headed and 20 percent have changed color. All but 19 percent were in good to excellent condition. Winter wheat is also coming along nicely at 96 percent headed and 65 percent changing color.

And the second cutting of alfalfa was reported as 38 percent complete. That's slightly better than last year, but one percent behind normal.

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