Wisconsin had 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending October 20, 2019, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperatures were below normal early in the week, then warmed up toward the weekend. Drizzly, overcast conditions and intermittent showers alternated with clear, sunny skies. With October flying by and frustrations rising, farmers took advantage of every break in the weather they could get this week. Progress was made harvesting corn silage, soybeans, hay, and corn for high moisture grain. Though soil moistures fell slightly, fields remained a muddy mess and reporters once again noted widespread rutting and stuck machinery. Some reporters commented that winter wheat planting may be prevented by the late harvest.
Topsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 65 percent adequate and 35 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition was rated 0 percent very short, 0 percent short, 62 percent adequate and 38 percent surplus. Ninety-six percent of corn has reached the dough stage.
Ninety percent of corn was dented. Sixty-one percent of corn was reported mature, 25 days behind last year and 17 days behind the 5-year average. Harvest of corn for grain was 7 percent complete, 23 days behind last year and 15 days behind the average. Corn condition was 63 percent good to excellent, up 1 percentage point from last week. Corn for silage harvest was 69 percent complete, 24 days behind last year and 17 days behind the average.
Leaves were coloring on 95 percent of the state’s soybeans. Plants were dropping leaves on 89 percent of soybeans, 13 days behind last year and 12 days behind the average. Soybean harvest was 32 percent complete, 1 day behind last year and 9 days behind the average. Soybean condition was 66 percent good to excellent, down 2 percentage points from last week.
Winter wheat was 57 percent planted, 11 days behind the last year and 12 days behind the average. Thirty-four percent of winter wheat had emerged, 10 days behind the average.
Oats were 94 percent harvested.
Potatoes were reported 85 percent harvested, 5 days behind last year and 12 days behind the average.
The fourth cutting of alfalfa hay was 80 percent complete, 24 days behind the average.
Fall tillage was reported as 16 percent complete, 6 days behind last year and 13 days behind the average.
Pasture condition was rated 52 percent in good to excellent condition, unchanged from last week.
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