Posted: 06.02.2010

Fairly smooth sailing for growers and their crops could describe the spring of 2010 so far.

The latest update from the Wisconsin Ag Statistical Service almost draws yawns to read.  96 percent of the corn is in the ground - 81 percent of soybeans are planted - and growers rate the quality of the crop their evaluating very high.  Wisconsin farmers are not alone either.  Nationwide USDA reports that some states like Ohio, Tennessee and even North Dakota may be lagging behind their five year average on pace of planting soybeans - they're still making progress.

Small grain fields in Wisconsin are also using the recent heat to their advantage. Farm reporters say that 84 percent of their oat crop is in good to excellent condition - and areas like Calumet county are reporting that the oat crop is beginning to head.  Winter wheat is advancing as well with some of the crop already headed out and other fields close to flowering.

Even regions like east central Wisconsin are making up for lost time.  Specifically in eastern Wisconsin - corn planting has gone from less then 60 percent 10 days ago to over 88 percent complete as of Sunday.

The only words of caution in this weeks "Crop Quality Update" were related to dry weather.  Areas of Northwestern, North central and North Eastern Wisconsin have all experienced very light rainfall - causing some reporters to note dry lawn and field conditions.

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