Some farmers' crops hit hard by rains, others OK
Heavy rains in some parts of Wisconsin last week delayed hay harvests and caused stress and uneven growing of crops, but the rain was so scattered some farms were dry while other farms were soaked with up to 3 1/2 inches of rain.
Overall, the Wisconsin crop progress report for July 20 showed the major crops in good or excellent shape, but still slightly behind state averages from 2007.
Farmers queried by the USDA national agricultural statistics service said corn is at 70 percent good or excellent, soybeans at 67 percent good or excellent, oats at 81 percent good or excellent, winter wheat at 75 percent good or excellent and pasture at 76 percent good or excellent.
Average corn height is at 60 inches, down from 74 inches last year, soybeans blooming are at 33 percent compared to 67 percent in 2007, oats are at 95 percent compared to 100 percent last year, and the second cutting of hay is 54 percent complete compared to 75 percent in 2007.
