Cloudy, cool conditions across the state kept crops in good condition, despite a lack of significant rainfall during the week of May 24.

Farmers across Ohio took advantage of five good days of warmer temperatures and dry weather to get corn and beans into the ground heading into a weekend filled with graduation parties and picnics. By the end of last week, farmers had 87 percent of their corn in the ground, well ahead of last year, and 68 percent of the crop had emerged compared to 36 percent last year.

Soybeans are well ahead of last year with 71 percent in the ground, compared to last year when only 32 percent of the crop had been planted.

Winter wheat progress is on par with last year, but growers need to watch for disease because of warm, humid temperatures. The 2015 oats planting is at about 94 percent, with 82 percent of the crop emerged and 1 percent starting to head.

Farmers also took advantage of the dry weather to mow hay, but cool temperatures and cloudy, humid conditions made drying conditions challenging. Most of the hay wound up as wrapped baleage or silage.

Produce growers are making progress in planting specialty crops, canning tomatoes and peppers.

Some parts of the state saw rain showers, but most of Ohio has not seen any significant amounts of rain over the past few weeks. Soil moisture continues to be adequate, but farmers have been raising dust as they do fieldwork.