KAUKAUNA, Wis. — A northeast Wisconsin farmer said he’s feeling pretty good after looking over the crop fields near Van Wychen Farms in Kaukauna.

Jake Raab works for the Van Wychen’s. He jokes he’s their number one employee.

Raab said this time of year is one of the busiest, but also one of the more rewarding.

“Feels good to finally get stuff done and pulled in, and getting put into the bins and having money coming back in,” Raab said.

Judging by the size of the ears of corn he’s pulled from the field, Raab said this year’s yields should be strong.

“This is looking real good,” he said, measuring the ear. “It’s filled out all the way to the end, and it’s looking real good.”

Raab said he’s relieved the crop looks strong considering how much it cost to plant in 2022.

“This is by far the most expensive crop of corn to put in, in state history,” he said. “Fuel prices, seed prices, fertilizer prices all went through the roof. We had good weather to grow it and at least it’s good that it’s turning out good.”

Kevin Jarek is a University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Crops and Soils agent in Outagamie County. He said for many corn growers, this year was costly on two fronts: the cost of doing business and lower yields because of disease.

Jarek said many farmers in the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin suffered greater incidents of infection in the fields than in northeast Wisconsin. Tar spot is one disease found in fields.

“It can result in the plant dying or not drying down before we reach full maturity,” Jarek said.

He said tar spot didn’t show up in northeast Wisconsin until later in the season when corn had already grown well.

But when Jarek looked at the same ear Raab pulled from the field, he said it was healthy.

“The plant is basically saying I’m done growing for the season,” Jarek said. “Now, all we have to do is dry down to a suitable harvest moisture.”

Raab said he will let a couple weeks pass before checking to see if the corn has dried down enough for harvest. He said then, he can do the hard work he’s been waiting to do for months.

“Makes me feel grateful,” Raab said. “It’s good to see that all your efforts throughout the summer weren’t in vain and it always feels good to see the finished product after all your hard work.”

He said that’s what every farmer hopes for each year, but not all are so lucky.