Farmers in northeast Wisconsin are hoping Mother Nature can lend them a hand with getting their fields ready. Another rainy week hampered farmers trying to get into more of their fields. The most recent Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition Report from the United States Department of Agriculture showed that farmers statewide only had 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending on April 27th. That led to spring tillage falling five days behind last year’s pace at 26 percent complete and oat planting falling four days behind last year’s pace at 26 percent. Salentine Homestead Dairy owner Josh Salentine says the moisture is there, but a little heat would be nice.

Those percentages are being carried by the southern portion of the state, which has been drier and warmer than its northern neighbors. In northeast Wisconsin, only six percent of the oats are planted and four percent of fields have been tilled.