The start of the Great Plains planting season is drier than normal, but it keeps getting pushed back because of cold temperatures and just enough brief periods of precipitation to delay fieldwork. One thing that is not in short supply is optimism, according to Heather Beaner, who farms at Mellette, in the northeastern corner of South Dakota. It is too cold to plant row crops, but some spring wheat is in, said Beaner.

There has been little if any planting of corn and soybeans in that part of South Dakota, she said.

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