BETHANY, Ill. — Wet and cold conditions are slowing down some farmers in the central part of the state.

J.C. Fitzgerald who farms north of Bethany and by Dalton City in Moultrie County, said the weather has kept him from making much progress in the fields.

TAMAROA, Ill. — It has been a tale of two seasons for Greg Schorfheide. So far, he likes the way the story is going in 2026.

Schorfheide, who farms in parts of Washington, Perry and Franklin counties, was able to begin planting in March — an unusual occurrence on his southern Illinois farm.

RIDGWAY, Ill. — Rusty Mosby is a typical farmer. In other words, he gets concerned when things seem to be going exceptionally well.

But that has been the case this spring. Mosby got his planting done earlier than ever, and after the seeds took root, he received abundant rains in a timely manner.

FORREST, Ill. — Kent Blunier said planting has been going slow and steady on his farm in Livingston County in eastern Illinois.

He estimated on May 4 that he was about two-thirds finished with planting corn and had yet to start on soybeans.