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Persistent rain this spring has prevented most farmers from getting into their fields.

Wet weather has put planting behind, but farmers are hopeful dry weather will hold.

“It’s dry on top, but there’s still a lot of wet holes,” said Donnie Miller of St. Joe AgriService.

Corn planting in Missouri is 18 days behind the normal pace, according to Missouri Agriculture Statistics Service. By the beginning of May, farmers usually have about two-thirds of the corn crop planted. This year, only 29 percent is planted in Northwest Missouri.

A string of rainy days last week kept farmers out of the field. Counties in the region received 2 to 4 inches of moisture last week.

The previous week, however, farmers were able to do field work in hill ground. Wayne Flanary, an agronomist with University of Missouri Extension in Holt County, said early planted corn is starting to emerge. The young plants are yellow because of the cool weather, but otherwise look good.

Farmers are likely anxious to get into the field, but specialists say there’s no need to worry yet.

“We’ve still got time,” Mr. Miller said. “If we get another week or 10 days, it will start getting on the serious side.”

This weather pattern is very similar to last year, said Bill Wiebold, agronomist at the University of Missouri. Corn planted as late as May 20 in 2008 still had good yields and he advises farmers to hang tight and wait for dry weather.

“I know that’s easier said than done, but the data shows you can still produce pretty good yields with late-planted corn,” he said.

Last year at this time, only 10 percent of the corn crop had been planted. The statewide average for corn yields last year was 140 bushels per acre.

Today’s forecast includes a 35 percent chance of thunderstorms, according to St. Joe Now.

Susan Mires can be reached at susanm@npgco.com.