You will notice plenty of work going on in area fields as farmers in Door and Kewaunee counties begin harvesting their wheat. Well over 90 percent of the winter wheat crop has colored statewide, which is a handful of days ahead of last year and more than a week in front of the average. Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture rated the condition of the crop as 76 percent good to excellent. Like much of the country is experiencing, Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta says the drought in June had a negative effect on much of the wheat crop in the area because of impacts the plant’s pollination. He is hoping for dry weather for farmers trying to get their wheat crop off their fields.

Barta adds that many farmers are hoping to take advantage of the higher prices for wheat this season, which would be the highest they have seen in years. Financial and Investment Newssource Barron’s suggests that the drought across the country could increase prices for grain by as much as 30 percent and futures contract prices have gone up nearly two dollars since April to $8.09.