With more rain expected this week and below average spring temperatures, many farmers are dealing with wet conditions during the planting season.

Southern Greene County farmer John Muir says he started planting corn in the middle of April, which was a little earlier than last year.  He adds that conditions were perfect and that’s why he decided to start planting corn.

“I used to have a feeling to wait.  Anymore, the amount that we have to get done, you need to get started and the hybrids are much better with cold temperatures, than they used to be.  As soon as it’s the official day beyond the crop insurance day, just go.”

However, some of the ground was still wet from last year, which for Paton farmer Pat Fields, it was an obstacle that he had to deal with when he started planting his crops.

“When we got in the field there in March putting on anhydrous, it was still wet; water was still standing and combine tracks from the year before and stuff like that.  It’s been a challenge since the start.”

Fields says another challenge is dealing with flooded ground from all the recent rainfall, which he adds he may have to go back and replant.

Going forward, Fields says he would like 80-degree temperatures, no wind and two-inches of rain every week to have an ideal growing season.