Getting after it

The saying, "Make hay while the sun shines," certainly applies to corn and soybeans.

Area farmers hit fields full speed over the past week thanks to beneficial weather conditions that finally allowed seeds to get into the ground. Planting season has been hampered this spring due to wet and cold weather that put off fieldwork for most of April, but busy fields have been the status quo this week as farmers rushed to get dirt moving and crops planted.

"It is amazing how many acres we can cover once we do get going," said Joel DeJong, a field agronomist with ISU Extension whose territory includes...