Cool spring has given way to a warm, wet growing season for Wisconsin crops

Yahoo

3 days ago

What a difference a few degrees and rain showers make.
Following a cool, wet start to the month of June, above normal temperatures have kick-started this year's corn crop. However, heavy rains last week across large portions of the state have brought its own set of problems to farmers.
Roy Eckberg, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Green Bay, says this summer is shaping up to be warmer than normal. According to the Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14-day forecast is calling for above normal temperatures to continue, with precipitation being slightly above or wetter than normal — good and bad news for farmers, depending on where their operations are located.
"Typically, farmers want very warm conditions for their corn crops in the high 80s with periodic chances for showers," Eckberg said.
Heavy rain across large portions of Wisconsin limited fieldwork last week. According to USDA'sNational Agricultural Statistics Service report released June 30, 2025 farmers had a little more than three days to get fieldwork done. The corn condition was rated 75 percent good to excellent, while nearly all of the soybean crop has emerged in fields across the state. Ten 10 percent of the soybean plants are already in bloom, matching both last year and the five-year average. The crop condition was 73 percent good to excellent.
Here is a look at how crops are doing around the state.
The cool, wet weather of June in north central Wisconsin has caused crop development to be a bit behind schedule.
"Although some fields were planted a little later than average, corn and soybeans are good in most places," said Matt Lippert, UW-Madison Division of Extension agent for Clark, Marathon and Wood counties. "The rain has slowed development lately, but conditions are still better than last year."
Dan Marzu, UW-Madison Division of Extension Nutrient and Pest Management outreach specialist, says corn in some areas is turning yellow from the stress of excessive water. It will take some time for fields to dry out, which could have negative impacts, he said.
"First crop hay got off the field in time, but now it is time for second crop and it might be a challenge for farmers to get in the fields and harvest at the preferred time," Marzu said. "Conditions like this cause concern for compaction and wheel traffic damage in hay fields."
Farmers also worry that wet field conditions could also make it difficult to get into fields in time for ideal weed control.
"The excessively wet conditions have caused nitrogen deficiencies and there is the potential that it could get too late to plan for rescue nitrogen applications if it is needed due to the height of the corn," Marzu said.
As a whole, crops in Liz Gartman's four-county area — Sheyboygan, Fond du Lac, Washington and Ozaukee — are doing well.
"Most forage growers were able to take in their first cutting of alfalfa on time around Memorial Day and are on target to be chopping second crop right now," said Gartman, UW Division of Extension regional crops educator. "Parts of the area received several inches of rain in the second half of May that set back planting a bit, but is seems like any corn planted in early June emerged very quickly and looks great compared to the earlier planted corn that encountered cooler temperatures and that excessive moisture."
Gartman says lower temperatures helped to slow the development of first crop pf alfalfa, affording farmers more flexibility during harvest.
The window of hot, humid weather at the end of June helped counties that were behind in growing degree days due to the early season's cool weather.
"This may be beneficial to help us catch up on those heat units necessary," Gartman said. "It will be interesting to see how this affects insect populations and disease pressures."
Weather forecasts calling for pop-up showers and thunderstorms might not be as helpful to growers in Fond du Lac and Washington counties. However, Gartman says farm fields in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties could use some moisture.
"We have been drier (along the lakeshore). Many of the storm systems that trailed through this past week lost their strength by the time they made it this far east, which meant only a few tenths each night," Gartman said. "While we aren't concerned about being too dry yet, a nice soaking rain would be welcome."
According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, counties in northern Wisconsin, part of southwest Wisconsin and along the Illinois border are experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with a few pockets of moderate drought in Kenosha, Lafayette, Rock and Green counties.
"I don't expect those conditions to worsen in light of the chances of rain in the forecast," Eckberg said.
Josh Kamps, UW-Madison Division of Extension crops and soils outreach specialist, says crops in Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties are doing well so far this year, and are developing mostly on schedule.
"Generally, crops in southern Wisconsin have been receiving enough rainfall to take advantage of the good growing conditions," Kamps said. "Crops are nearing the start of the reproductive stages, which requires regular rainfall to meet crop yield potential."
At this time, Kamp says crops seem healthy with a low level of plant pathogens present.
"For full-season crops like corn and soybeans, crop scouting and studying disease modeling is important during July and August to determine the need and timing of crop protection treatments," Kamp said.
During a recent training session for crops and soils specialists, plant pathologist Damon Smith with the University of Wisconsin says growers are experiencing weather that is ideal for corn tar spot infection.
"It's too early to see symptoms now," he told them, "but it is likely that infections are occurring and that growers need to be vigilant in their scouting of susceptible fields in coming weeks."
Heat can reduce the chance, but using forecasting tools available at Badger Crop Network is key to monitoring these issues.
"So far, the 2025 season has been wet with low to moderate temperatures. Weather only recently has turned off hot and less conducive for white mold in the southern portion of Wisconsin," Smith wrote on his website.
"Remember that if the bloom period for soybeans gets extended due to cool weather, this can lead to an extended window for infection by the fungus," Smith told growers. "Often cool weather is a double whammy as it is good for the white mold fungus and slows down soybean crop development, thereby extending bloom."
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: How are Wisconsin crops growing so far? Farmers, experts share updates