While it may be frustrating on many fronts for farmers, at least you were able to see them get into their fields this week.

According to the weekly crop progress and condition report from the United States Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin farmers had 3.7 days suitable for fieldwork, a whole day more on average than last week. As a result, fields saw more significant week over week increases in spring tillage (29 percent now to 15 percent last week) and the planting of corn (seven percent to one percent), soybeans (six percent to three percent), and oats (30 percent to 15 percent). Farmers are still one-and-a-half to three weeks behind last year’s pace despite the gains. Supply chain issues have caused less product to be available and, in some cases, for it to be more expensive. Fertilizer prices, for example, are about double what they were a year ago.

Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta said last week that they have still been able to service their customers.

President Joe Biden outlined ways his administration planned to help farmers this week. They include increasing the number of counties eligible for double cropping insurance, double funding for domestic fertilizer production, and cutting costs by increasing technical assistance for technology-driven precision agriculture.