NORMAL - Mike Mouser drove his tractor up and down a 180-acre stretch of land in north Normal, dropping tiny soybean seeds from a planter about two inches into the ground.

"We're getting there," Mouser said as he planted on the last of his land Thursday.

The corn and soybean farmer from Carlock joins other area farmers who have finished or nearly finished this season's planting.

About 93 percent of the corn crop across the state had been planted as of Sunday, which was 10 percent more than the five-year average, according to the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service. Soybeans also were ahead of schedule at 44 percent planted, compared to the five-year average of 32 percent, statistics show.

With almost another full week of work under their belts, farmers in Central Illinois have planted about 98 per-cent of their corn and 75 percent of their beans, estimated Dan Patten, assistant vice president and farm manager with Soy Capital Ag Services in Bloomington.

"There are a lot of beans planted. We've had a pretty good start here these past two weeks," Patten said Friday.

Farmers had some nervous moments as they waited for rain to stop and weather conditions to improve before they could start work in April, but fields look good now, Patten said. Even though corn planting was delayed a few days because of rain, warmer May weather sped up the growth process, Patten said.

Mouser sees positive signs where he farms, too.

"So far, all the corn looks real good. It's emerged and the population's real good. With beans, we're just seeing the beans start to emerge," Mouser said.

Farmer Jim O'Brien of LeRoy had a little scare Friday morning when he saw a bit of frost on the roof of his house and yard.

"When I got out toward the farm, I didn't see any frost … I don't think we got any damage," O'Brien said.

He also expected to wrap up spring planting Friday night.

"I'm pretty happy with getting done on the 18th of May with beans," O'Brien said.

Meanwhile, Gerald Thompson of Colfax has been done planting for a week now. He finished the last of his corn acres and started on beans in the same day early last week.

"With the corn running a little late, it was time to start (soybeans). We made the transition and moved on to the other," Thompson said.

Relative to other years, corn growth is as good as or better than in years past, Thompson said.

"We're back on track," Thompson said. "We had a lot of really warm days that helped make up for the later start."