Posted: 05.10.2011

16 percent may not sound like much - but to Wisconsin farmers that have been capitalizing on warmer, drier weather - it's plenty.

The latest update from the Wisconsin Ag Statistical Service shows that 16% of Wisconsin's corn was in the ground on Sunday with 32% of the spring tillage work complete.  Neither number is very impressive - but it does show a turn in Wisconsin's weather.

State records show that last year at this time Wisconsin had 66 percent of the corn already planted.  The normal 5 year average would have 44 percent of the corn already in - so Wisconsin is lagging behind.  Pioneer representative, Jeff Pionek, told Pam Jahnke that it's still too early for growers to get too excited about pulling the trigger on shorter season hybrids.  "You give up so much yield,"  Pionek says, "and the quality compromise is huge too."  Pionek says that supplies of those shorter season hybrids should be available if the weather stays uncooperative.

9% of the states oat crop was in the ground by Sunday and potato and pea planting in the sandier regions were progressing.  There were some reporters voicing concern over winterkill damage that might have hit raspberry and strawberry patches - but it was still early. 

Warmer weather has already helped winter wheat, alfalfa, and spring pastures green up

Nationwide 40 percent of the corn crop was planted as of Sunday, according to USDA.

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