Field activities included tillage, planting and fertilizer application

Wisconsin had 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending April 28, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Dry weather to start the week allowed some farmers to get equipment into fields before rainy conditions later in the week. Field activities included tillage, planting and fertilizer application. Topsoil moisture condition rated 1% very short, 14% short, 69% adequate and 16% surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 1% very short, 17% short, 73% adequate and 9% surplus. Corn planting has begun and was 10 percent complete, six days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean planting has begun and was 11% complete, nine days ahead of last year and six days ahead of average. Oat planting progress was 39% complete, nine days ahead of last year and four days ahead of average. Emergence was 11% complete. Seventy-five percent of potato acreage has been planted, over two weeks ahead of both last year and average. Spring tillage was 47% complete, 12 days ahead of last year and seven days ahead of average. Winter wheat condition remained at 82% good to excellent statewide. Pasture and range condition was rated at 46% good to excellent statewide, up nine percentage points from last week.