Posted: 07.20.2010

It seems hard to believe but Wisconsin already has one percent of its corn crop that's advanced to the "dough" stage of maturity this week.

The latest update from the WI Ag Statistical Service said that statewide, average temperatures last week were 2-4 degrees above normal - and the crops loved it!  The average corn plant in the state is now around 73 inches tall.  There was a 35 percent increase in the amount of corn that's "silked" to an estimate of around 48 percent. 

Soybean producers are now on the look out for insects.  Some reporters noted that soybean aphid numbers were beginning to climb and treatment might be necessary in some regions.  The crop itself is advancing nicely too with 50 percent of the crop already in bloom.

Weather is still a concern for a lot of Wisconsin crops though.  Farmers battled to harvest wheat - reporting only average yields.  In Door county - strong winds that raced through that region caused some damage to an already small tart cherry crop. And high humidity was causing mold to form on some northern Wisconsin raspberry plants.

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