Southern Wisconsin harvest delayed by weather

Harvesting crops with farm equipment is being slowed down in southern Wisconsin.
Harvesting crops with farm equipment is being slowed down in southern Wisconsin.
Though producers in Wisconsin are trying to get farm equipment out to their fields, damp weather is delaying the harvest.

According to a recent report from the Wisconsin State Journal, Farmers in the southern area of the state are getting their crops out of fields at a much later time due to cold and wet weather. David Fischer, crops and soil agent for University of Wisconsin Extension in the state's Dane County, told the publication that the harvest is far behind.

For example, Fischer said that soybeans should be completely harvested by this time. However, only 20 to 25 percent of the crop is out of the ground. At this point the corn harvest should be 20 to 30 percent complete, however, only 2 to 3 percent has been harvested.

Fischer said farmers may not be able to get back out to their fields with farm equipment until October 25 or 26.

"They look at the calendar and say, 'Am I going to get the crop out before it snows?'" Fischer told the State Journal.

In its neighbor to the south, some farmers are finding themselves harvesting later as well, which means they are losing daylight. A story from Illinois' State Journal-Register noted that farmers have to stay out during darker hours because of the weather-delayed harvest, which is becoming a safety concern while they drive farm equipment from field to field on country roads.
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