OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – The WPS Farm Show in Oshkosh is bringing together farmers from all over the state with the latest in agricultural innovations.
The EAA grounds is the site of the three-day event.
A hot topic at the event has been, not surprisingly, the weather.
Following a deep freeze and then rapid snowmelt, many are now just looking for some consistency.
“I think after February, we thought we weren’t going to be getting into the fields very early this year,” says Aerica Bjurstrom, a Kewaunee County Agriculture Agent.
Kris Scheider of Zirbel Dairy Farms is ready for spring.
“The weather’s been interesting this year,” explains Scheider. “We’ve had a lot of snow and a lot of cold weather, it’s been a little bit difficult.”
Scott Gunderson, a Manitowoc County Agricultural Agent, says the up-and-down weather has taken a toll out on some crops.
“It’s very, very, challenging [because] Alfalfa likes drier roots, and last fall, it was extremely wet,” he explains. “We had some conditions this winter where we had snow cover, but then it disappeared and we had extremely brutal cold weather.”
Thankfully there has been some evening out as of late.
“We had a rather quick melt, and now it’s slowed down. It’s melting a lot slower, it’s a lot more even,” says Bjurstrom.
In fact, if everything shakes out right, farmers could be out in the field as early as the end of April.
“I think that’s a realistic goal [and] hopefully we’re still on track, barring any rain or anything like that,” says Scheider. “It’s just going to take us a little bit of time, but you know, farmers do persevere, no matter what kind of conditions they’re in.”
