Area farmers are beginning to see signs that the corn harvest is right around the corner. According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, 9% of the state’s corn crop is in the dent stage, which is the final major phase of maturity.

Northeast Wisconsin is trailing the southern portion of the state, which is driving up the statewide average. In northeast Wisconsin, 1% of the crop is in the dent stage, compared with 36% in the dough stage and 96% in the silking phase. Corn condition is rated 67% good to excellent, down 2 percentage points.

Duane Ducat of Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee has been focusing on his third crop of alfalfa hay, which is about 85% complete statewide, compared with the five-year average of 79%. Ducat says that with much of the corn crop still in the early stages of development, his plants can use more water than heat at this point in the season.

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Soybean development and the harvest of winter wheat and oats are ahead of the five-year average. Wisconsin farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week, with some producers chopping corn in northern counties because of the warm, dry conditions.