Posted: 05.24.2011

So far this spring, Wisconsin's planting story has been about the "have's" and the "have nots" weather-wise.

The latest numbers from the Wisconsin Ag Statistical Service prove that farmers who HAD dry weather kept the planters rolling - while those that didn't, are still being held back.  Statewide, farmers had 63 percent of their corn in the ground - nearly 20 percent behind the five year average.  Some of the corn that had been planted started to peak out of the soil too - around 14 percent.  For farmers that had completed their corn planting - there's always soybeans.  As of Sunday statewide 25 percent of that crop was in.

There's still some trouble zones in the state that are still too wet to get much done.  Reporters in north central Wisconsin reported just 35 percent of their corn planted and barely 50 percent of their tillage work complete.  East central Wisconsin faced some of the same challenges - with just 41 percent of their corn in the ground.

Still, some Wisconsin crops are racing to a finish.  Reporters say that nearly 70 percent of the state potato crop is in and that snap bean planting is on target too.

It appears the next challenge for many farmers will be combining planting needs with quickly maturing alfalfa stands.  In some areas of south western Wisconsin - hay cutting has already begun.  Areas farther north claim their alfalfa's running about 2 weeks behind - but still may try to cut by Memorial weekend.

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