The extra dose of heat this week will likely bring tractors, combines, and more implements to your commute this week. Corn usually needs to have a moisture content between 60 and 70 percent before it can be harvested for silage. That benchmark was reached by more than a third of the 96 samples brought to last week’s corn dry-down event hosted by Rio Creek Feed Mill in Luxemburg last week. Even with the threat of storms Tuesday night in Wednesday, farmers in Door and Kewaunee counties will see unseasonably warm temperatures through the weekend with Sturgeon Bay being in the low to mid 70s and Luxemburg hitting the high 70s to low 80s. Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta says farmers are ready to get going on the harvest season after going through some struggles due to elevated drought conditions for much of the summer.

About a third of the corn silage harvest is already complete across the state according to the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service. That is seven days ahead of last year and one day in front of the five-year average. In recognition of National Farm Safety and Health Week, Barta reminds both farmers and motorists to drive slowly and to give each other plenty of space on area roadways.