The latest USDA report shows Nebraska farmers are making good progress in their fields. The Husker State's corn crop is 44-percent planted, well ahead of last year's 12-percent. Only six-percent of the soybeans are in, which is also ahead of the average for this date of two-percent. Oats are 93-percent planted. Paul Bertels, an economist with the National Corn Growers Association, says things are looking good across the region, so far. (play audio  :06)
Corn prices remain at more than six-dollars a bushel, but Bertels says a record or near-record crop would push that down somewhat. He says early planting across the Corn Belt could make for an excellent harvest. (play audio  :19)
In the 18 states that grow the vast majority of the nation's corn, 53-percent of the crop is in the ground.