The hopes of spring were short-lived in northeast Wisconsin as dry weather and temperatures in the 80s were quickly replaced with snow, rain, and cold. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that Wisconsin farmers got out to their fields just less than four days last week. While the heat melted the snow off the fields, the return of more wintry weather will likely keep them off until more consistency comes in the forecast. Duane Ducat from Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee said ahead of last Sunday’s cold and wet weather that the fields were off to a good start, though he would like to see more temperate temperatures.

Progress made spring tillage and the planting of the corn, oat, and potato crops was all at least four days ahead of last year’s pace, but in some cases were behind the five-year average. The National Weather Service does not offer much hope to build on that success this week with rain and snow in the forecast through the weekend.