Winter Weather Puts Wisconsin Farmers Slightly Behind Schedule For Fieldwork

With most of the state under several inches of snow, some Wisconsin farmers are starting to worry about a late start to this year’s growing season.

Trisha Wagner, agriculture agent for the University of Wisconsin-Extension in Jackson County, said April snow storms aren’t unusual.

“But the fact that we’ve had two large storms now, with over 10 inches, and the temperatures have remained cool enough that the snow is kind of sticking around is probably what’s been most surprising,” Wagner said. “A lot of farms typically would have spring oats planted by now and of course no field work has been happening throughout much of the state.”

Greg Bussler, state statistician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, said grain farmers aren’t far behind schedule.

“The previous few years, people have gotten spoiled and been able to get in the field early,” Bussler said. “But if you look at the five year averages and so on, I think we really aren’t that far behind the normal.”

But Wagner said most farmers like to be able to get into the field as early as possible in the year.

“There’s a number of advantages to planting early, everything from better response to fertilizers to better dry down towards the end of the season in the fall,” Wagner said.

If conditions don’t dry up soon, Wagner said farmers could face long days trying to get crops in at the end of spring.

“We end up having to do as much planting as we can in a short amount of time. It really puts a lot of added stress on farmers who are having to be in the fields almost 24/7,” Wagner said.

The prolonged winter weather has also created a tough season for some maple syrup producers in northern Wisconsin.

Bussler said some producers are reporting that taps have stopped running in the cold temperatures.

“What maple syrup likes is below freezing evenings and warm days and we really haven’t had the warm days,” Bussler said.

Some fruit growers in Wisconsin have celebrated the cold temperatures, saying the late winter weather could mean a healthier crop this year.

Another round of winter weather is expected Wednesday, with snow accumulation possible for parts of northern and western Wisconsin.