2024 Wisconsin Crop Progress Year in Review

The Wisconsin growing season began with above normal temperatures and rainfall. On March 31, 2024, topsoil moisture was rated 11 percent surplus compared to 45 percent on April 2, 2023. Snow and rain in early April raised soil moisture further. On April 21, spring tillage was 22 percent complete, nine days ahead of 2023 and 3 days ahead of the 5 -year average. Spring rains continued and in June both topsoil and subsoil moisture reach ratings of 100 percent adequate or surplus. Despite some areas of excess moisture or flooding hampering planting, statewide progress remained mostly at or ahead of average.

Summer started with near normal temperatures and greater than average precipitation. Crop development stayed ahead of average throughout the growing season. By August 18, the winter wheat harvest was 97 percent complete, one week ahead of the five-year average. The oat harvest was 98 complete on September 8. On October 27, the soybean harvest was nearly complete at 96 percent. This was a little under 4 weeks ahead of last year and of average. On November 24, the corn harvest was nearly complete at 97% harvested. This was well above last year’s pace of 83 percent and the 82 percent average. Post- harvest activities such as tillage and manure applications started out ahead of average.

The average temperature for June through September was 66.5 degrees, the same as 2023 but above the normal temperature of 65.3 degrees. Both April and May averaged temperatures 2.3 degrees above normal, while June temperatures were 0.5 degrees above normal. July was the only month below average temperatures, at 0.4 degrees below normal. August was 0.6 degrees above normal, with September being particularly warm at 4.3 degrees above normal.

The rainy spring and summer ended abruptly with a dry start to fall. Precipitation totaled 26.28 inches from April to September, compared to 17.36 inches last year and the normal of 23.36 inches. June with 7.22 inches of precipitation was the wettest month, 2.52 inches above normal. In contrast, September was the driest month with 1.35 inches of precipitation, 2.24 inches below normal.

Corn planting started slightly ahead of the 5-year average, with 10 percent planted on April 28. Conditions allowed planting progress to remain ahead of normal until June 2, falling 2 days behind average. Planting was nearly finished on June 23. Conditions rated 70 percent good to excellent for the first rating of the year on June 2. Conditions declined to as low as 58 percent good to excellent on July 14, but increased the following weeks peaking at 65 percent good to excellent on August 25th. Sixty -one percent of the corn crop was in the dough stage or beyond on August 18, 2 days ahead of the average. Silage harvest started out behind the average pace but eventually exceeded the average harvested on September 22. Ninety-six percent of silage was harvested by October 20. The grain harvest was consistently well ahead of the average, with 65 percent of corn for grain being harvested by October 27, 15 days ahead of the average. By November 24, 97 percent of corn for grain had been harvested, well above last year. ’s pace of 83 percent and the 82 percent average.

By April 28, 11 percent of the soybean crop had been planted, 6 days ahead of the five-year average. By June 2, 82 percent had been planted, 2 days ahead of the average. Soybean condition started at 70 percent good to excellent on June 2, but dropped to the high
50’s to mid 60’s in July where it remained the rest of the year. Forty nine percent of soybeans were setting pods by August 4, 1 day behind the average. Ninety-five percent of the crop was setting pods by September 1, 5 days ahead of the average.

Harvest started in mid-September and by October 6, 61 percent of soybean crop had been harvested, 12 days ahead of last year and 2 weeks ahead of average. Harvest was 96 percent complete on October 27, well ahead of last year and the average.

Oat planting started out slightly ahead of average in early April. Twenty percent of the total acreage was planted during the week ending April 28, with planting progress at 39 percent complete. Planting progress stayed ahead of normal until June 2, when it matched the average of 92 percent complete. By June 16th planting was nearly finished with 98 percent complete.

Emergence followed a similar pattern with 93 percent emerged on June 23. Ninety-six percent of the oat crop was heading or beyond by July 21, similar to the previous year and the average. Nearly 90 percent of the oat crop had turned color by the start of August.

Oat harvest reached 58 percent complete on August 11, 5 days ahead of the average. By September 8, 98 percent of the harvest was complete 7 percentage points ahead of average. Oat condition began at 81 percent good to excellent on May 26, and remained fairly consistent until the last condition rating of the season of 79 percent good to excellent on August 4.

Planting for winter wheat began in late August 2023. By October 29, planting reached 93 percent complete. On November 19, 94 percent of the crop had emerged, 6 percentage points ahead of average. As fall ended, the wheat condition was rated 66 percent
good to excellent compared to 80 a year earlier. In the spring of 2024 when estimates resumed, condition improved slightly to 68 percent good to excellent on March 31, 2024. Conditions rose steadily during crop development, topping out at 86 percent good to excellent for most of May and June. Condition declined to 78 percent good to excellent for the last rating of the season on July 28. By June 16, 92 percent of the crop was headed or beyond, two weeks ahead of the average. Harvest had started by mid July. Ninety-four percent of the crop was harvested by August 11, nine days ahead of the average.

Potato planting started in mid-April. Planting was 98 percent complete by June 2, ahead of last year and the average. Harvest was slightly ahead of average for most of the season and by October 20, 98 percent of the potato crop was harvested, ahead of last year and the average.

As of May 12, winter freeze damage to alfalfa was rated 0 percent severe, 1 percent moderate, and 10 percent light. There was reportedly no damage to the remaining 89 percent of alfalfa, 12 percentage points better than 2023. Alfalfa hay harvest was underway by mid-May and the first cutting was 35 percent complete on June 2, 1 day ahead of the 5-year average. The first cutting harvest was 95 complete on July 7th.

The second cutting reached 96 percent complete on August 11. The third and fourth cutting were slightly ahead of average for most of the harvest. All hay condition began at 74 percent rated good to excellent on May 5. Conditions peaked in early June with 82 percent rated good to excellent, and then declined to the season low of 66 percent good to excellent condition on June 23. Good to excellent condition ratings improved for the remainder of the season, with the final rating on September 8 of 77 percent good to excellent, up 32 percentage points from last year’s final rating.

Pasture condition began with 25 percent rated good to excellent on March 31. Warm weather and rainfall gradually improved condition to a season peak of 75 percent good to excellent on June 9. However, warm weather and below normal rainfall caused a rapid decline in condition during September and October, with condition dropping to 23 percent good to excellent on October 27.

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