MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Last month’s heavy rains in Wisconsin stopped just long enough for farmers to do some critical field work last week.

Growers cut hay and sprayed for weeds, as their crops kept growing faster than normal for this time of year. Officials said the average corn stalk is 47 inches tall. That’s 16 inches higher than the week before, and 8 inches higher than the average for the past 5 years.

83 percent of the corn was rated good to excellent as of July 4th – and well above knee-high. Soybeans were rated at 79 percent good to excellent, oats at 87 percent, and winter wheat at 88 percent.

The soybeans were at 10 percent of their bloom, and farmers were able to spray for a growth of weeds during the June rainstorms. Farmers reported good soil moisture, but 16 percent of fields in the northwest still reported a shortage.