June 10th, 2026 Weather Outlook

Key Points

Recent Conditions

• Temperatures were unseasonably warm once again last week, with many locations at 5-7°F above normal for early June. Along with warmer temperatures, humidity levels were also elevated. 
• Most of Wisconsin received at least 0.5” of rainfall last week, with folks in the southwest counties receiving the most (2-4” or more). Totals were a bit less in east-central and northwest counties. 

Impact

• Soil moisture changes at 4” depth across Wisconet research farm stations were a mixed bag with variable precipitation totals (0” to over 1”). 
• Satellite-based soil moisture estimates indicate that most of Wisconsin has drier than normal moisture in the top 1-meter depth for early June, with closer-to-normal moisture the southwest counties normal following a relatively wet week. 
• Drought coverage was unchanged in the state from last week, with minimal decreases in D0 coverage in the southwest.
• Corn and soybean planting is just about wrapped up in Wisconsin fields, and crop condition reports indicate that most of the young crops are in good to excellent condition. 

Outlook

• The next 7 days look to be active for precipitation across the state, with the best chances for rain along the Illinois border. 
• The outlook for mid-to-late June indicates near normal temperatures with a lean toward above-normal precipitation, especially on the eastern side of the state (40-50% odds). 
• Across most of Wisconsin, the June outlook indicates a lean towards above-normal temperatures (40-50% odds) and below-normal precipitation (33-40% odds for most). 

Agronomic, Fruit and Vegetable Considerations

Field Conditions

•  June is the time for pre-sidedress nitrate soil sampling. See guidelines for PSNT sampling.

Forage Management

• First crop alfalfa is being harvested throughout WI. Consider using a PEAQ (Predictive Equations for Alfalfa Quality) stick to estimate relative feed value as you decide when to make each cut. 
• As scissor clips have concluded throughout the state; find UW and UMN quality data using the Alfalfa Harvest Alert dashboard.   

Pest Management

• Scout fields to note what weed species are emerging or have escaped herbicide application.  
• Be observant of black cutworm and true armyworm moths migrating through the state. Check the DATCP Pest Trap Network Maps. Look for true armyworm larvae in corn (especially around V5), grass pasture, and small grains.  
• Scout emerging corn until V5 for signs of cutworm feeding.  
• Continue scouting for alfalfa weevil larva, mostly in the northern half of WI. Weevil larvae have the greatest impact (quality and yield) on first and second alfalfa cuts. Fields that have been harvested are seeing feeding on second crop regrowth.  
• SlugNet is trapping again in 2026! Review weekly trap catches across the state. Observe fields (especially fields with reduced tillage and cover crops) for any signs of slug damage.  
• Continue to scout corn and soybean fields for disease. While disease in these crops has been of low concern so far, recent precipitation could change conditions to be more favorable.  

Manure Applications

• Reminder of Wisconsin’s NR 151 Runoff Rules with the timing of manure spreading and current runoff levels. Check DATCP Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast. 

Small Grains

• Scout small grains for signs of disease. This includes powdery mildew and stripe rust, especially in susceptible varieties. Use the Crop Risk Tool and Fusarium Risk Tool for risk assessment for Fusarium Head Blight. FHB risk has remained low.    
• Staging small grain growth is important for fungicide timing as diseases are emerging. Winter wheat in the southern half of the stat is past the window to spray fungicide. Those in the central and northern parts of the state may still have an opportunity, if warranted. Review growth stages here.  

Fruit Considerations- General

• Wisconsin fruit growers can reference the Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide for a list of registered products and recommended best practices. View the MFPMG Online.
• Strawberry growers who recently received heavy rain in the last week should keep an eye out for cracking and molding. Any sitting water may also increase the risk of root diseases. Growers may reference this University of Minnesota Extension article on Harvesting Strawberries after severe weather or heavy rain.

Fruit Considerations- Disease

• Apple and grape growers can reference the NEWA weather station network to monitor for disease infection periods in their area. Check out your nearest weather station: NEWA Weather Station Network (Cornell).
• Secondary Apple scab fruit lesions have been observed in Southern WI, likely pushed along by recent rains. Continue scouting scab susceptible varieties. A reminder that protectants will typically wash off after ~1inch of rain.
• Recent rain events have driven infection periods for grape diseases. Grape growers may consider reviewing grape black rot (Cornell) monitoring and management and grape phomopsis monitoring and management. 
• Grape growers can reference the NEWA weather station network to monitor disease infection events for phomopsis, powdery mildew and black rot. Check out your nearest weather station: NEWA Grape Diseases Model.

Fruit Considerations- Insects

• Apple growers should continue monitoring degree-day (base 50℉) accumulation for Codling moth. First generation larvae will emerge after ~250 degree-days (base 50℉) have accumulated from the biofix date. Second generation larvae will typically emerge at ~1250 degree-days (base 50℉) from the biofix date.
• Apple growers should keep track of degree-day (base 50℉) accumulation from petal fall to determine the end of plum curculio movement into the orchard. Plum curculio will typically cease movement into the orchard after ~308 degree-days (base 50℉) have accumulated from the petal fall date.
• Strawberry growers have reported signs of spittlebugs, which typically cause little damage unless large populations are present (~1/plant).

Vegetable Considerations- General

• Remove garlic scapes to maximize bulb size. Research has shown that failure to remove garlic scapes can reduce bulb size by as much as 48%. Scapes can be removed as soon as they emerge or if you have a market for scapes, once they are fully coiled. Removing scapes at full coil has a minor impact on yield, research has shown a 9% reduction, but make up for this loss with the demand from consumers. If hand removal is not practical, research has shown that letting the scapes grow longer (30-40cm) and then cutting with a sickle bar mower reduces damage to leaves and minimizes impacts on yield.  
• Whether you use drip or a center pivot to irrigate, it is important to monitor water pressure to maintain effective irrigation of crops especially during recent dry conditions. Check out this article from Michigan State to learn more.  
• It is a great time to consider summer cover crops before planting fall crops. Summer cover crop options include buckwheat, cowpea, and sorghum sudangrass. Check out these videos from UW Madison Extension and Iowa State Extension to learn more about what might work on your farm. Purdue also has a great article on this topic.  

Vegetable Considerations- Disease

• Cucumber downy mildew spores have been detected in 3 eastern and southeastern counties in Michigan. However, no reports of disease outbreaks have been reported in Michigan or Wisconsin.  

Vegetable Considerations- Insects

• Thrips and mites are common high tunnel pests due to their preference for hot and dry conditions. In addition, to direct damage to the plant, they can also transmit diseases. Biological control is one option to help control these pest populations. Check out this article from University of Maryland Extension about commercially available biological control agents, the pests they can control, and the best conditions in which to implement this control strategy. 
• Squash vine borer risk is starting to increase in southern WI as adults start to emerge from their overwintering sites in the soil. Be on the lookout for adults which are day flying moths. Their abdomens are red to orange in color with black spots. Newly emerged females begin looking for hosts to lay eggs shortly after emerging. Floating row cover during peak adult activity can reduce crop risk although it must be removed during flowering. Chemical control options are limited once larvae move into the plant stem. Effective chemical control requires insecticides to be in place before and during egg laying.  
• Stalk borer risk is high in southern WI and increasing in central WI. Starting in late May the larvae migrate from grassy weeds along field edges into susceptible crops which include tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, and beans. Larvae feed on leaves or stalk tunnels, causing irregular holes in the newly unfolding leaves. Control options are limited this time of year. If eggs have already hatched, removing alternative weed hosts can increase the amount that migrate into your crop. For chemical treatment to be effective, treatment must occur before larvae have moved into the crop stem. Therefore, it is very difficult to use chemical controls as their presence is not often noticed until they are already inside the stem and have caused damage. 
• The risk from the first generation of western flower thrips is now high or very high in northern WI. The risk from the second generation will be increasing in southern WI over the next week. Early detection is key as control can be very difficult. Iowa State has a few useful videos on scouting: tip on finding thrips and tips on spotting thrips damage on cucumber transplants. Control options include row cover, reflective mulch and weed management as weeds such as chickweed and lambsquarters serve as alternative hosts. 
• Recent rains should have helped knock back populations of onion thrips. However, as the first alfalfa harvest continues across the state, the risk of migration into your vegetables increases. Scout weekly and pay particular attention to field edges are this pest is more common there early in the season. Scouting tips and management information can be found here and here. 
• Alfalfa harvest also means that aster leafhoppers will be on the move. MSU traps and checks infectivity levels in Michigan. Sign up for text alerts here to get an idea of how infectivity levels are changing throughout the season. Aster leafhoppers spread aster yellows which can cause significant damage to a range of crops including garlic, lettuce, carrots, and parsley. Control of aster yellows depends on control of the aster leafhopper. Management options include floating row covers, planting resistant cultivars, and insecticides. 
• Potato leafhopper is another pest that is common to find on your vegetable crop post alfalfa harvest. Pay attention to beans and potatoes for signs of damage which include veins turning yellow and leaf curling during early stages and later appears as the characteristic “hopper burn” that leads to the yellowing or browning of leaf tips. Damage occurs most rapidly under hot and dry conditions. Management information and action thresholds can be found here.  
• Continue scouting for Colorado potato beetle. Reports from the Vegetable Crop indicate that “in much of southern Wisconsin, larval populations are well into mid- and later stages of larval development, whereas only early larval stages are present in most fields within central Wisconsin.” Larvicide recommendations can be found here.  
• Continue to scout for striped cucumber beetles. Eggs are laid at the base of cucurbit plants. Once larvae hatch, they feed on roots and stems and can cause stunted growth or even kill seedlings. Adults feed on foliage and fruit and can spread bacterial wilt which can cause severe losses in cucumber and muskmelon. It is important to scout and, when necessary, control beetles early in the season to reduce risk of spreading this bacterial wilt. Control measures include dipping seedlings in kaolin clay prior to transplanting, floating row cover or high tunnel insect exclusion screens, and perimeter trap cropping. 
• Scout for cabbage looper, imported cabbageworm and diamondback moth eggs and larvae. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves or occasionally on the stem. One way to help identify the larvae is by their behavior when disturbed. Cabbageworm larvae will typically remain motionless while diamondback larvae will wiggle around and often fall off the plant. Cabbage loopers move with a distinctive arch or loop and may whip its head around when disturbed. Plants are most susceptible to damage as young transplants and from early heading to harvest so the management threshold is when 10% of plants are affected. More information on treatment thresholds and management options can be found here. It is best to rely on larvae counts rather than damage or frass (droppings) to determine the level of infestation. Resistance to insecticides is a risk with these pests. Rotate modes of action, choose a selective insecticide when possible, and spot treat or band applications rather than broadcasting.  
• The second generation of adult seed corn maggots is now active around Spooner, Wausau, Shawano, and Green Bay. Northern WI can expect the risk to increase over the next week especially with the predicted warm temps. The third generation will start becoming active in southern WI over the next week. Injury is caused exclusively by larvae which feeds on the cotyledons and below ground tissue of seedlings. Management is only effective if done in a preventative manner. Once larval damage is detected, their are no control options. Preventative management options can be found here.  
• Cabbage maggot peak egg laying is now occurring in northern WI. Treatment is primarily preventative. When possible, till in cover crops 2 to 3 weeks before planting to reduce attractiveness. If possible, delay planting to avoid peak activity. Plantings after mid-June generally suffer less damage than early plantings. Floating row covers and diatomaceous earth are also good options during peak activity. To monitor activity in your area, use the Vegetable Disease and Insect Forecasting Network.  
• DATCP continues to report black cutworm moth trap catches. Black cutworm larvae feed on newly emerged crops and prefer direct seeded crops over transplants. Many crops are susceptible to damage including beets, carrots, cucumber, leafy greens, sweet corn and squash. Management options include weed management as females prefer to lay eggs in weedy areas and avoiding the use of green manure in areas where cutworms tend to be a problem. For chemical control to be effective, early detection is key. If chemical treatment is necessary, begin treating at the first signs of cutting and repeat every 7 days until 1000 degree days are reached. 

Temperature Trends

Growing Degree Days (Base 50°F)

Crop Progress and Condition