Rain Delays Hay Cutting; Corn Sees A Boost

For the week ending July 13, 2025, Wisconsin experienced 4.6 days suitable for fieldwork, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall in parts of the state delayed hay and forage cutting.

Soil Moisture:

• Topsoil: 0% very short, 9% short, 73% adequate, 18% surplus
• Subsoil: 3% very short, 12% short, 71% adequate, 14% surplus

Crop Development and Conditions:

• Corn: 13% of the crop had reached the silking stage, which is one day behind last year but one day ahead of the five-year average. Overall, 78% of the crop was rated in good to excellent condition, up one point from the previous week.
• Soybeans: 44% were blooming, seven days ahead of last year and in line with the five-year average. About 5% were setting pods. Soybean condition was rated 74% good to excellent, down one percentage point from the previous week.
• Winter Wheat: 92% coloring, with condition improving slightly to 72% good to excellent. Harvesting had begun in a few areas.
• Oats: 88% were headed and 53% were coloring—both slightly ahead of last year and the average. Condition remained steady at 81% good to excellent. Some early harvest activity was underway.
• Potato: Harvesting had started in some regions, and crop condition was reported as 89% good to excellent.

Forage and Pastures:

• Alfalfa Hay: The second cutting was 68% complete, three days ahead of last year but a day behind the average. Third-cutting operations had started in some locations.
• Hay Condition: Rated 80% good to excellent, a 4-point increase from the previous week.
• Pastures: Rated 70% good to excellent, up one point from the prior week.