As Wisconsin’s Corn Harvest Wraps Up, Its Winter Wheat Crop Takes Off

Coming off an extremely fast-paced corn harvest that produced average to slightly above-average yields, Wisconsin now seems primed for a great winter wheat crop. Here’s what the USDA had to say for the last week of Crop Progress reporting, along with some final thoughts from a Wisconsin agronomist.

‘Tremendous Harvest Season’

The Badger State is reaching the end of corn harvest earlier than usual. Corn for grain was 97% harvested the week ending Nov. 24, the USDA said in its Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition report. That’s significantly ahead of 83% last year and the five-year average of 82% but comes as no surprise. Wisconsin’s corn harvest has been exceeding historical trends since early October.

According to Nick Groth, an agronomist with Syngenta, based out of the Beaver Dam area, the pace has begun to slow, now that most of the crop is harvested. “There are a few fields of corn still scattered around the countryside,” he said. “The weather has turned a bit wetter, which may slow down the completion of harvest in a few areas. But overall, it was a tremendous harvest season, with the crop being taken off at a record pace.”

Groth said a couple of weeks ago that he’s been hearing average to slightly above-average yields for most of the state.

‘Wheat Growers Have a Reason to Be Optimistic About the 2025 Crop’

According to the Wisconsin report, 97% of the state’s winter wheat crop had emerged by Nov. 24. The USDA rated the crop’s condition 0% very poor, 2% poor, 24% fair, 58% good, and 16% excellent.

“The winter wheat crop looks great across most of Wisconsin,” Groth said. “Dry conditions earlier this fall led to a rapid harvest and great planting conditions. The weather then turned wetter just when the crop really needed it. We also have had a pretty mild [to] warm fall, which has allowed for more fall growth than average.” 

Groth said in Wisconsin, “You never know what the winter will bring.” He said the wheat crop could still face challenges if winter is particularly cold or brings a lot of ice. But, as it seems now, “Wheat growers have a reason to be optimistic about the 2025 crop.”