Area farmers want you to travel safely on rural roads over the coming weeks as the corn silage harvest begins across the area. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress and Condition Report, 22 percent of the corn for silage harvest is complete, one percentage point behind the pace for 2024 and 15 percentage points behind 2023. Otherwise, corn is 95 percent at the dough stage, 72 percent dented, and 17 percent mature, while soybeans are 58 percent coloring and 19 percent dropping leaves. Both crops are faring well; their condition is rated 81 percent good to excellent. Farmers are also planting winter wheat for next year’s harvest and cutting alfalfa for the fourth time this year, leaving plenty of tractors and other heavy farm equipment entering and leaving fields across the county. Earlier this month, Josh Salentine from Salentine Homestead Dairy in Luxemburg implored farmers and motorists to watch out for each other on the roads.
Farmers who have not yet harvested their corn for silage can test its moisture at events hosted by the UW Extension Office and its partners. That includes this Thursday at Rio Creek Feed Mill in Rio Creek from 9 a.m. until noon. Each farm can submit two samples at no charge, while additional samples will cost farmers $15 each. Test results will be available on Friday.