A wet start to the planting season has farmers in Wisconsin slightly behind the average pace for fieldwork, according to he latest Wisconsin Crop Progress & Condition study. It reported only one day last week was suitable for fieldwork.
Recent precipitation, below-normal temperatures and overcast skies mean soil in most of the state continues to be too wet for farmers, with 45 percent of the state’s topsoil containing surplus moisture.
Greg Thessen with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Statistics Service said the planting season is still young and Wisconsin farmers may have opportunities in the coming weeks to get back on track.
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“If (farmers) get some sunshine and warmer temperatures, get those soils dried out, I’m sure they’re going to be out there trying to get as much fieldwork done as they can,” Thessen said.
Thessen said last year’s season also started off slow in Wisconsin but by May, farmers were well above the average pace for planting.
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