Farmers could be accused of "making hay while the sun shines" last week. After buckets of rain the week before, most areas of Indiana experienced warm, sunny days that dried out fields and got trucks and tractors moving.

Kevin Cox, a grain farmer in Brazil, Ind., spent the week covering his corn and soybean fields with post-application herbicides and combating a cutworm infestation in his corn. Every day was productive, with low- to mid-80 degree temperatures and clear skies, he said.

"I had two semis on the road every day hauling old-crop corn. We cleaned and cleared some older buildings," he added.

Having finished planting three weeks ago, Cox is seeing a good stand and early emergence. The only hiccup was 40-degree nights recently.

"This is potentially one of the best crops I’ve had. Both soybeans and corn are off to a good start. The 40-degree nights have a tendency to put on the brakes. Everything just stops. If we get rain tonight like it’s predicted and warm temperatures this week, the crop will take off," Cox said Sunday.

He said his crops are ahead of last year’s. Cox was able to do a first cutting on his hay three weeks ago, ahead of the rainy weather.

Two weeks ago, many farmers slogged through the rain to continue planting corn and soybeans. Some areas experienced ponding. Emergence for both corn and soybeans was steady with the five-year average for the week, according to NASS of the Great Lakes region, with 81 percent for corn and 51 percent for soybeans.

Temps were above average for nearly all regions of the state. Days suitable for fieldwork numbered 4.7 for the week of May 24-31. At the end of that time, 95 percent of the state’s corn was planted and 80 percent of soybeans seeded. About 79 percent of winter wheat was headed, while 52 percent of alfalfa hay had been cut.