MONROE - Increased rainfall has put off corn planting, leading a number of area farmers to gamble with projecting prices or switch to soybeans before it becomes too late in the season.
A recent window of sunny weather has granted temporary relief.
Dan Roe, co-founder of Monticello-based grain elevator Pleasant Grain LLC, has roughly 4,000 tillable acres of corn and soybeans.
"These last few warm, dry days have been a blessing," Roe said. "It's been a long time since it's been this difficult."
Planting season has been wetter than previous years, Green County Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer noted, and it may feel especially worse this season simply because of the record yield produced by nearly perfect conditions in 2016.
"We've certainly seen a delay in the Green County area," Mayer said. "It's certainly behind the normal schedule but not the five-year average."
In 2016, the crop yields "blew the lid off the top" of the highest record year, Mayer said. This year is more on pace with average expectations.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition report released Sunday, south-central Wisconsin had 80 percent of its corn planted compared to a state average of 77 percent. Statewide, corn planting is 12 days behind 2016.
For those who planted corn in April, an optimistic outlook may have cost them some profits.
"Definitely on some earlier planted corn, there are grounded out spots," said Roe, who finished corn planting Wednesday. "At this point, we just have to live with what we get and what grows."
Overall, spring tillage was 89 percent complete throughout Wisconsin, which the USDA progress report notes is 13 days behind 2016 and one day behind the five-year average. Mayer said ideally farmers looking to profit want to complete corn planting by May 20. After that date, a bushel per day is lost. For those struggling to predict the market, soybeans, which can be planted later than corn, may be a safer option.
"A lot of farmers are probably switching to soybeans," Mayer said.
However, with fewer corn yields, he added that corn prices could potentially increase against an influx of soybeans. According to the USDA.report, 53 percent of soybeans have been planted in the region versus a state average of 45 percent. The report indicated there were 3.4 suitable days for fieldwork in southern Wisconsin, just over the state average of three days for the week.
Hay-cutting is affected by field conditions. It specifically impacts dairy farmers, who grow alfalfa for cow feed.
John Dieckhoff operates Hidden Sunset Farm west of Juda and has roughly 160 acres of tillable land dedicated to crops: a mix of corn, soybeans, wheat, grass and alfalfa. Dieckhoff said anticipating perfect timing amid inclement weather and ensuring 20 percent or greater protein in the crop has "always been a challenge." As Mayer noted, and Dieckhoff agreed, if the crop isn't adequate, other nutrients have to be purchased to compensate for any shortcomings.
Despite these obstacles, Dieckhoff observed, farmers bounce back.
"The big picture is there are always going to be challenges," Dieckhoff said. "We never know what these are going to be. Our job is to respond to that challenge. We're always in reaction mode."
Mayer noted that given the change from last season to this year, conditions may not be ideal, but are better than other possible outcomes.
"Most farmers would agree," he said. "A little too much rain is better than too little."
A recent window of sunny weather has granted temporary relief.
Dan Roe, co-founder of Monticello-based grain elevator Pleasant Grain LLC, has roughly 4,000 tillable acres of corn and soybeans.
"These last few warm, dry days have been a blessing," Roe said. "It's been a long time since it's been this difficult."
Planting season has been wetter than previous years, Green County Agriculture Agent Mark Mayer noted, and it may feel especially worse this season simply because of the record yield produced by nearly perfect conditions in 2016.
"We've certainly seen a delay in the Green County area," Mayer said. "It's certainly behind the normal schedule but not the five-year average."
In 2016, the crop yields "blew the lid off the top" of the highest record year, Mayer said. This year is more on pace with average expectations.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition report released Sunday, south-central Wisconsin had 80 percent of its corn planted compared to a state average of 77 percent. Statewide, corn planting is 12 days behind 2016.
For those who planted corn in April, an optimistic outlook may have cost them some profits.
"Definitely on some earlier planted corn, there are grounded out spots," said Roe, who finished corn planting Wednesday. "At this point, we just have to live with what we get and what grows."
Overall, spring tillage was 89 percent complete throughout Wisconsin, which the USDA progress report notes is 13 days behind 2016 and one day behind the five-year average. Mayer said ideally farmers looking to profit want to complete corn planting by May 20. After that date, a bushel per day is lost. For those struggling to predict the market, soybeans, which can be planted later than corn, may be a safer option.
"A lot of farmers are probably switching to soybeans," Mayer said.
However, with fewer corn yields, he added that corn prices could potentially increase against an influx of soybeans. According to the USDA.report, 53 percent of soybeans have been planted in the region versus a state average of 45 percent. The report indicated there were 3.4 suitable days for fieldwork in southern Wisconsin, just over the state average of three days for the week.
Hay-cutting is affected by field conditions. It specifically impacts dairy farmers, who grow alfalfa for cow feed.
John Dieckhoff operates Hidden Sunset Farm west of Juda and has roughly 160 acres of tillable land dedicated to crops: a mix of corn, soybeans, wheat, grass and alfalfa. Dieckhoff said anticipating perfect timing amid inclement weather and ensuring 20 percent or greater protein in the crop has "always been a challenge." As Mayer noted, and Dieckhoff agreed, if the crop isn't adequate, other nutrients have to be purchased to compensate for any shortcomings.
Despite these obstacles, Dieckhoff observed, farmers bounce back.
"The big picture is there are always going to be challenges," Dieckhoff said. "We never know what these are going to be. Our job is to respond to that challenge. We're always in reaction mode."
Mayer noted that given the change from last season to this year, conditions may not be ideal, but are better than other possible outcomes.
"Most farmers would agree," he said. "A little too much rain is better than too little."