Posted: 08.16.2011

Wisconsin farmers still remain confident about the crop they have - but they also realize after a slow start this spring - they still need the heat.

As of Sunday, 50 percent of the state corn growers said they had a "good" crop while 29 percent rated it excellent.  Same in soybeans - 54 percent calling it good and 28 percent boasting excellent ratings.

The crops still need some heat though to finish off corn kernels, and fill soybean pods.  95 percent of the corn crop in Wisconsin had silked as of Sunday - with 36 percent of the crop now in the "dough" stage of kernel development.

Statewide 95 percent of the soybeans were blooming with 76 percent setting pods.

Hit and miss shower activity has frustrated some growers trying to wrap up the third cutting of hay.  State officials say 56 percent of that task was done as of Sunday.

Vegetable production is also moving forward.  Snap bean yields are apparently higher then last year - as are sweet corn yields.  Some of the extreme heat experienced in July may cost the state gardeners a few tomatoes though because of poor fruit set.  And too much rain early in the growing season has forced some central Wisconsin pickle producers to disc up the crop entirely.

One vegetable producer that contacted the Wisconsin Farm Report said that fortunately, there's been no evidence of late blight in either potato or tomato patches.  That disease has been a problem for Wisconsin over the past two growing seasons.  State officials say late blight may still appear before the end of the harvest window.

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