Wisconsin Farmers Face Wet Conditions, Limited Fieldwork
Wisconsin farmers had 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending April 20, 2025, despite rainy and wet conditions limiting activities, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday.
Fieldwork included spreading fertilizer and manure, as well as tillage where conditions permitted. Topsoil moisture was rated 2% very short, 14% short, 65% adequate, and 19% surplus. Subsoil moisture stood at 4% very short, 20% short, 59% adequate, and 17% surplus.
Corn planting reached 1% completion, while soybean planting hit 2%. Oat planting was 17% complete, trailing last year and the five-year average by one day. Potato planting reached 14%, five days behind last year but on par with the average. Spring tillage was 15% complete, lagging four days behind last year and two days behind the average.
Pasture and range conditions improved, with 27% rated good to excellent, up 3 percentage points from the previous week. Winter wheat conditions also rose, with 52% rated good to excellent, a 6-percentage-point increase from last week.
The report reflects ongoing challenges for Wisconsin farmers navigating wet weather as the planting season progresses.
