Wisconsin Ag Connection - It Has Not Been a Good Week for Drying Hay

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It Has Not Been a Good Week for Drying Hay
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/30/2015

The frequent pattern of showers persisted through yet another week in Wisconsin farm fields. According to the latest crop/weather report from the state's agriculture department, the wet and damp weather prevented hay from drying and kept low ground saturated in much of the state. Severe thunderstorms moved through southern Wisconsin on Monday, with some damage to crops, farm buildings and trees reported.

Average topsoil moistures dropped slightly last week, with 19 percent surplus this week. At the district level, soil moistures rated surplus was up in the West Central, Southwest and South Central Districts, where rains were heaviest, and down in the rest of the state.

As of Sunday, the corn crop was rated 84 percent good to excellent. Eighty-three percent of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent. And about 80 percent of oats were at or beyond the headed stage, which is ahead of last year and the five-year average.

Ninety-five percent of winter wheat was headed or beyond, four days ahead of last year. Forty percent of winter wheat has turned color. And Seventy-eight percent of winter wheat was rated in good to excellent condition.

Meanwhile, the first cutting of alfalfa was 93 percent harvested, six days ahead of last year and five days ahead of average for this time of year. The second cutting of alfalfa was 20 percent harvested, the second highest percent harvested by this date in more than 35 years. All hay condition was 83 percent in good to excellent condition, compared to 80 percent last week.

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