— The state has seen a substantial improvement in drought conditions over the past few weeks as farmers continue harvesting corn, potatoes and other crops.
The percentage of Wisconsin experiencing extreme drought — the second-worst category — has fallen from 22% in early September to just 6.8%, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System website.
The lingering areas of extreme drought are located in the state’s northern and southwestern regions.
At the same time, the share of the state under exceptional drought warning has fallen from 2.4% to none, the NIDIS site shows. That category is reserved for the driest possible conditions.
In descending order of severity, 31% of the state remains in the severe drought category, while 43.1% is under moderate drought and 17.1% is abnormally dry.
And though 3.4 million Wisconsin residents live in areas of drought, that number has declined 6.1% since last week.
Heavy rains over the past week improved soil moisture levels and pasture conditions, though they also limited fieldwork, according to the USDA’s latest crop progress report. Farmers in Wisconsin are busy with harvesting corn for grain and silage, planting winter wheat and cutting hay, the report shows.
Harvesting of corn for silage was 68% complete as of Sunday, which is five days ahead of last year’s rate and one day ahead of the five-year average.
Meanwhile, 72% of the state’s potato crop had been harvested — five days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the average.
And the season’s fourth cutting of alfalfa was 92% complete, which is two days behind last year but 15 days ahead of the average.
See the USDA figures: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Wisconsin/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition/2023/WI-Crop-Progress-10-02-23.pdf
See the NIDIS site: https://www.drought.gov/states/wisconsin
— A GOP bill would require retailers who work out of a physical location to accept cash as a payment during a face-to-face sale of $2,000 or less.
Reps. Michael Schraa of Oshkosh and Treig Pronschinske of Mondovi are seeking co-sponsors for the bill by 5 p.m. Friday, according to a memo sent to other lawmakers. They note many businesses no longer accept cash, arguing this restriction makes it difficult for some people to purchase what they need.
“For people that are elderly, less fortunate, or simply choose to live a life that doesn’t require technology, this cashless mandate can be overly burdensome to pay for necessities,” they wrote.
Seven other states have put in place similar laws, according to the memo. These include Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island.
Under the legislation, retailers who violate the requirement would be fined between $200 and $5,000, the memo shows.
See more in the memo:
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— GOP lawmakers are circulating legislation to enable certain out-of-state telehealth providers to offer mental health services without being licensed in the state.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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— Wisconsin has been ranked No. 1 in the country for its five-year small business survival rate.
That’s according to federal data gathered by Capital on Tap, an Atlanta-based business credit card service. The company’s analysis found Wisconsin has a five-year small business survival rate of 54.97%, topping the list.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s three-year survival rate for small businesses was 64.93% and its one-year survival rate was 81.13%.
Damian Brynchy, chief legal, America and product officer for the company, noted 20% of U.S. small businesses fail within their first year.
“There are over 30 million small businesses in the U.S., making up an enormous percentage of the economy, and as this number continues to grow, so will innovation and commercial drive,” Brynchy said in a statement. “This research should serve as a positive sign to entrepreneurs in the top ten states who are thinking about starting a business.”
Data for the report came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
See the full report: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/capital-on-tap-the-top-ten-u-s-states-with-the-highest-rate-of-small-business-survival/
— Joseph Neu, president of UAW Local 75 representing local striking Stellantis employees in Milwaukee, says he’s negotiating for contract language to ensure the plant remains open.
“This is a serious threat,” Neu told “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “That would devastate here. That would close here and also close a plant in Chicago.”
Stellantis plants in Milwaukee and Hudson are part of the nationwide parts distribution centers on strike as part of the nationwide strike. Part of the union’s demands include a 40% pay increase over a number of years and a 32-hour work week.
“Wages and hours are always everything,” Neu said. “That can be negotiated. I’m a stickler because wages mean nothing without a job.”
Neu said politicians seeking labor’s endorsement ahead of the 2024 elections won’t necessarily fall along party lines.
“Every time politics comes up onto an election year, you see it more than anything,” Neu said. “It’s who works. You heard back what (Shawn) Fain said, you’ve got to win his endorsement. He ain’t giving no endorsements. Who helps him, that’s who’s getting it. Same with my locals too. We’re endorsing who’s going to do the best for us. That’s what we’ve got to look for.”
Fain is UAW president.
See more from the show: https://www.wisn.com/upfront
— The Water Council’s Oasis Coworking Community in Milwaukee is now full with the recent addition of two businesses from France and Canada.
Eaux Collectives & Traitements of France and Pipesonic of Canada recently signed leases for space in the council’s Global Water Center, bringing the total number of tenants in the Oasis to 12. The Water Council says it’s considering options to expand available space given the popularity of the offering.
“The word is getting out about Milwaukee as more and more global companies recognize it as a place where water works,” Water Council President and CEO Dean Amhaus said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to grow our world water hub.”
See more in the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/the-water-council-two-international-companies-open-offices-at-global-water-center/
#TOP STORIES#
# Groups petition Forest Service to suspend logging project in northeastern Wisconsin
# Bucks owner Wes Edens on a new coach, new star player, the luxury tax, TV broadcasts and more
# Cologuard maker Exact Sciences plans huge expansion in Arizona
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin FFA chapters receive ag literacy grants
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=885&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Milwaukee County breaks ground on first health and human services center
# ECONOMY
– Evers renews push for child care funding in EC visit
# EDUCATION
– DATCP and LEA host dairy export workshops
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=884&yr=2023
– UW-Madison bucks System’s enrollment declines, tops 50K students
– Madison students’ unpaid meal debts reached $245K last year
# ENVIRONMENT
– Spotted lanternflies detected in 2 of Wisconsin’s neighboring states
# HEALTH CARE
– Network Health partnering with Gee’s MKE Wellness Clinic, will provide free weekly services
# MANUFACTURING
– Often outnumbered, Susan Stansbury reveals how she built career as a woman in Wisconsin’s paper industry
# MEDIA
– ‘Wisconsin Field to Fork’ puts the focus on growers and producers
– ‘Top Chef’ makes the rounds in Milwaukee — then leaves us wanting more
– Jim Murphy of WIXX’s ‘Murphy in the Morning’ show is signing off after 32 years, report says
# POLITICS
– Bill would ban ‘deepfake’ pornography in Wisconsin
# REAL ESTATE
– $18M upgrade makes historic downtown Milwaukee high-rise a modern data center
# SPORTS
– Where the Milwaukee Brewers ranked in MLB attendance for 2023
# TECHNOLOGY
– Johnson Controls addressing cybersecurity incident that draws national attention
– Global Water Center gains two new international tenants in coworking space
# TOURISM
– Oktoberfest traditions shine as warmth, sun greet revelers
# UTILITIES
– Most Wisconsin heating bills could come down from last year, but remain ‘near record levels’
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Capital on Tap: The top ten U.S. states with the highest rate of small business survival
