Posted: 08.24.2010

Cantaloupe - and other Wisconsin crops look very good this week.

Agronomists around the state tell Pam Jahnke, that according to the heat units they've measured - field crops are about a month ahead of where they would've been last year at this time.  Mike Weiss, agronomist in eastern Wisconsin for Syngenta, said that because the ear of corn may be more mature then the actual stalk - a kernel processor will be a must for ideal feed.

Weiss said he's also been a little surprised how far north Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans has progressed.  The soil borne virus can cause plant death - or at minimum, yield loss.  Weiss says because Wisconsin farmers are now in the habit of growing more soybeans repeatedly - farther north - the virus has a better chance then ever to be expressed.

The latest version of the crop progress update from teh WI Ag Statistical Service shows one percent of the corn crop that's already mature!  34 percent is already in the dent stage.

The other noteworthy item in this week's report is that 70 percent of the state has ample soil moisture - with 28 percent still reporting a surplus situation.

The increase in heat units is also allowing haymakers to tuck away a third crop - and possibly a fourth depending on the weather. 

Where vegetables have already been harvested - cover crops are now being planted to protect the soil through the winter months.  The only crop that we're still watching develop is the pumpkin and squash offering.  Some growers say the crop will be compromised because of the wet weather.

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