Volume 54 Number 19 November 20 2009This Week's Weather & Pests Below-normal temperatures and crop development delays characterized the 2009 growing season. Mild, dry weather in April permitted early planting of oats peas, potatoes and some corn, but several weeks of cool, rainy conditions in May interfered with fieldwork. June exhibited erratic weather, sometimes unusually cold and at other times extremely hot. Historic low temperatures occurred in July, slowing development of insects and crops and delaying the season by 1-3 weeks. August growing conditions were generally favorable, and a warm, dry September accelerated late-developing corn and soybeans toward maturity. Frequent rains in October impaired harvest operations and favored the increase of stalk rots and ear molds of corn, which were heavy in individual fields. Despite these adversities, farmers expect to harvest 418 million bushels of corn and 63.6 million bushels of soybeans. If realized, this would be Wisconsin's third largest corn harvest and fourth largest soybean harvest on record. |
