Posted: 05.18.2010

Everybody was under a cloud last week with cold, wet weather dominating the state.  But some growers in Eastern Wisconsin are really feeling the pressure!

If you look at statewide averages - Wisconsin has 78 percent of the corn crop already planted with a healthy 31 percent already poking through the ground.  Same aggressive schedule for soybeans with 31 percent of that crop already seeded!  But the good news doesn't cover everybody.

Crop reporters in Eastern Wisconsin expressed frustration at not being able to keep up with growers in southwest and south central Wisconsin.  In the East Central quadrant of Wisconsin only 46 percent of the corn is in the ground and just 16 percent of the soybeans are in.  Reporters agonized that with the wet weather last week they're likely going to fight to get field work done for another week - almost three if you're counting.

There's also some concerns being expressed by fruit tree owners after the cold snap over a week ago that brought some snow to areas of the state.  The Wisconsin Ag Statistical Service says they're getting reports from fruit tree owners that the jury is still out on the damage done to the potential harvest.

On the up side - it looks like southern Wisconsin strawberry growers might get an early start on their season.  Ed Bures of Bures Berry Patch in Barneveld says his early strawberry varieties are already available.  Bures will be joining Pam Jahnke on her network farm show each Wednesday, beginning tomorrow, with updates on how the strawberry picking season is unfolding.

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