Drought Plagues Western Wisconsin Farmers

Crop yields in western Wisconsin are expected to be significantly lower this year due to drought conditions. Jeff Peck, a dairy farmer from Chippewa Falls, said that even though corn stalks may appear tall and healthy, the cobs are undersized, resulting in lower quality and quantity of crops. The lack of moisture in the soil has been particularly hard on fields with lighter soil types.

Peck plants around 500 acres of corn, with about 150 acres dedicated to animal feed. He noted that farmers who use their corn for silage are already harvesting it before the kernels get too dry. The smaller cobs and lack of moisture in the ground mean that the quality and quantity of crops will be lower this year.

Jerry Clark, a UW Extension agriculture agent, agreed with Peck's assessment, stating that yields are expected to be down sharply due to drought conditions. He noted that about 50% of subsoil moisture is below normal, making it too late for some fields without any additional moisture.