With rain in the forecast for much of this week, area farmers are happy to be ahead of schedule. According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, Wisconsin farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork last week, a drop of almost a day statewide. Northeast Wisconsin played a major role in keeping the average up, with 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork, tying southwest Wisconsin for the most favorable working conditions last week.

The corn-for-grain harvest moved ahead of the five-year average at 61% complete, while the soybean harvest is 10 percentage points ahead of the five-year average at 94% complete. Winter wheat planting is 95% complete, with 74% of the crop emerging. That is 5 percentage points behind the five-year average, but farmers could see that gap close quickly with rain possible through Thursday.