Crop Progress and Condition Report

With fall harvest on the horizon, the USDA released the Crop Progress and Condition Report for Wisconsin. Hot, dry weather has been a theme over the last week and will continue to be.

Wisconsin had 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending August 27, 2023, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Hot and dry weather across most of the state depleted soil moisture. Fieldwork included cutting hay and harvesting oats and winter wheat.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 12 percent very short, 36 percent short, 52 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 20 percent very short, 35 percent short, 45 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Corn silking was 98 percent complete. Corn in the dough stage was at 77 percent, 2 days ahead of last year and 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Twenty-one percent of the corn crop was dented. Corn condition was 59 percent good to excellent, up 4 percent from to last week.

Ninety-seven percent of the soybean crop was blooming or beyond. Eighty-eight percent of the soybean crop has set pods, 2 days behind last year and 2 days behind the average. Soybean condition was 59 percent good to excellent, up 3 percent from last week.

Seventy-nine percent of the oat crop has been harvested, near last year and the 5-year average.

Ninety-eight percent of the winter wheat crop has been harvested, equal to the average.
Twenty-two percent of the potato crop has been harvested, 1 day ahead of last year and equal to the average.

The third cutting of alfalfa was 93 percent complete. The fourth cutting of alfalfa was 39 percent complete, 4 days ahead of last year and 8 days ahead of the average. All hay condition was reported 47 percent good to excellent statewide, down 3 percent from last week.

Pasture condition was rated 34 good to excellent statewide, down 3 percent from last week.

For more information on crop progress now and throughout harvest, visit the USDA National Agricultural Statistic Service’s website at nass.usda.gov.