SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — In what has been a tough few years for agriculture, the weather has been kind to farmers the past few weeks as they get their crops in the ground. About 37 percent of the state’s corn crop is in the ground, which is up from 7 percent at this time last year, and 6 percent higher than the five-year running average.

But there are always challenges in farming. Saline-Gallatin County Farm Bureau Manager Marisa Davis says a possible cold snap later this week could affect the new plants.

Davis says while the weather overall has been kind, the markets are still struggling because of the ongoing economic and public health crises.