A farmer in southeast Missouri says the mild winter has encouraged some early planting this spring.

Clint Stephens from Stoddard County says soybeans and rice are being seeded earlier than usual, but recent rains have delayed the start of rice planting on his farm.

“There is a lot of rice already planted in southeast Missouri.”

He says rice planting usually starts around April 15.

Stephens is almost done planting corn, in-line with the average planting pace, and conditions were right at the end of March to get into the field.

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