Farmers Catch Up On Planting Crops After Cold, Wet Spring

After a cold and wet spring, Wisconsin farmers are almost back on schedule planting crops.

Rain kept farmers off their land for many days this spring. Growers made the best of it by working long hours during the scattered windows of decent weather.

By now, farmers have practically caught up with planting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the percentage of crops planted in Wisconsin is almost in line with the state’s five-year average.

Lake Geneva farmer David Adams is the president of the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board. His fields are planted for the year, save 40 or 50 acres.

“It’s not good,” said Adams. “I do have insurance for some of it. But it’s low ground. It’s wet ground anyways, and it just never dried out this year.”

Farmers have to get their corn in the ground by a certain day in order to be fully covered by crop insurance. That deadline has passed in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association spokesman Tamas Houlihan said the potato crop is behind about one week. He said if the weather cooperates this summer, the crop should produce normal yields. But, Houlihan said, potatoes won’t be ready for early harvest in July.

“A lot of growers like to get into the early market … which is mid- to late-July,” said Houlihan. “There are some potatoes ready for harvest and they generally command a high price at that time because not many areas are ready to have new potatoes in mid- to late-July.”

According to the USDA, the majority of Wisconsin’s hay, corn, soybeans, and oats are in good and excellent condition.