Coming off a remarkable corn harvest that saw average to slightly above-average yields, Wisconsin now stands on the brink of a great winter wheat season. Let's delve into the details as shared by the USDA in the last week of Crop Progress reporting and insights from a local agronomist.

Unveiling Wisconsin's Agricultural Success Story

'Tremendous Corn Harvest Comes to an End'

The Badger State is witnessing the conclusion of its corn harvest earlier than usual. As of the week ending Nov. 24, 97% of the corn for grain had been harvested. This is a significant leap from 83% last year and the five-year average of 82%. It's no surprise as Wisconsin's corn harvest has been outpacing historical trends since early October. Nick Groth, an agronomist from Syngenta in the Beaver Dam area, notes that the pace has started to slow now that the majority of the crop is harvested. "There are still a few fields of corn scattered around," he says. "The weather has turned wetter, which might delay the final touches in some areas. Nevertheless, it was an extraordinary harvest season, with the crop being removed at an unprecedented rate." Groth had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that most of the state was experiencing average to slightly above-average yields.

'Winter Wheat Crop Shows Promising Signs'

According to the Wisconsin report, 97% of the winter wheat crop had emerged by Nov. 24. The USDA rated the condition of the crop as 0% very poor, 2% poor, 24% fair, 58% good, and 16% excellent. Groth emphasizes that the winter wheat crop looks excellent across most of Wisconsin. The dry conditions earlier in the fall facilitated a quick harvest and excellent planting conditions. However, the weather turned wetter just when the crop needed it the most. Additionally, Wisconsin has had a relatively mild to warm fall, enabling more fall growth than average. Groth warns that one can never be certain about what winter will bring. There is a possibility that the wheat crop could face challenges if winter is extremely cold or brings a lot of ice. But for now, "Wheat growers have a valid reason to be optimistic about the 2025 crop."