Nebraska farmers have been helped by recent warm weather and high humidity.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistics Service says Nebraska crops are developing well because of the favorable weather.

Over a half an inch of rain was reported across most of Nebraska last week, contributing to the best soil moisture conditions since 2000.

Across much of the state, farmers have been applying herbicides and baling hay. In southeast and south-central Nebraska, the first fields of winter wheat have been harvested.

The USDA says 82 percent of the state's corn crop rated good or excellent last week. At the same time last year, only 70 percent of the corn crop was good or excellent.