Across the road, the farmer and his tractor started early this morning trying to ready ground for spring planting. However, spotty showers forced him from the field.

Last week's drier weather and ideal temperatures across much of the state allowed farmers to make great strides in Missouri's corn and soybean planting. However, portions of the state saw wet weather stall progress.

Soybean planting is 23% complete in Missouri. It is still an increase from last year, when the state was at just 20%. And while much of the state hit the 20% mark in soybean planting, areas in west central Missouri are just at 8% planted.

Weather outook

CLOUDY MONDAY: Rain moved farmers out of fields again in east central Missouri, delaying planting. Drier weather expected for the end of the week.

The weather at the beginning of this week is shaping up to be a wet one, and farmers might be recalling the planting delays of last year. The good news is the forecast shows a period of drier weather for the end of this week into the next.

There is still plenty of calendar days left for soybean planting. And soybeans are resilient in Missouri when we get them in the ground.

Corn progress

Corn planting is nearing the finish line with 94% complete, 22 percentage points ahead of last year and 30 ahead of the 5-year average. However, counties in the northwest are just at 88% complete, while those in the northeast fare slightly better at 91%.

Corn emerged progressed to 76% statewide, almost 40 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average.