Winter wheat harvest has begun around Wisconsin and it looks like the crop's pretty good.  That's the quick analysis from Anastasia Kurth, Regional Crops & Soils Educator at UW-Madison Extension.  She says Wisconsin corn and soybeans are generally in good-to-excellent condition. Unlike  last year, growing degree days are slightly ahead of schedule, allowing  crops to benefit well from the current heat and humidity. Farmers have recently applied side-dress nitrogen for a mid-season crop boost. While southern rust has not been reported, growers are urged to scout for tar spot, which has already been confirmed in five neighboring states to the south and west. Soybeans are hitting their five-year average for blooming. Farmers are reminded to closely check herbicide labels, as the flowering (R1) stage dictates whether certain post-emergence herbicides can still be legally applied. This hot weather may not be ideal for people, pets or livestock but it has suppressed the risk of white mold in soybeans (which prefers cool, wet conditions), but farmers should watch for emerging Japanese beetles and monitor Western bean cutworm trap data.

Smoke is back in the forecast for all of Wisconsin to varying degrees. Stu Muck explains the drift today.  He also sees rain developing as soon as tonight.

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days concludes today in Stratford.  The show simply could not happen without volunteers.  Kiley Allan visits with one of them.  Maria Meyer is a volunteer along with her son.  It's a tradition that started the last time the show was in the area and her uncle asked her to help.  She explains that the volunteers receive compensation that goes directly to their charitable organization.  In Maria's case it's the Loyal EMS Dept.  Her son is volunteering to benefit his football team.

It's not just Wisconsin or the U.S. that's experiencing this heat.  Europe is as well.  Mike North, principal with EverAg out of Platteville, explains the milk loss we've already seen and how it's impacting the cheese market.