Sun in the forecast is good news for Nebraska farmers who say a cooler than normal spring has left crops needing light and heat.

One farmer says if it comes soon it could be the catalyst for a good growing season.

"So far things aren't doing too bad this year," said Todd Reed, a farmer from Waverly.

Farmers around Lancaster County say a cool dry spring helped them get in the fields early for planting.

"Compared to last year we're a little ahead," said Reed.

While the eastern part of the state is a little behind on rain right now, it's enough for now.

"That's what happens when water stands," said Reed pointing to a flooded area of his corn crop. "It gets yellow and short... A big rain shower right now and the ground just can't absorb it that fast."

It's another growing factor crops need more than anything.

"We could use some sunshine right now," Reed said.

According to Reed, much of June has been more spring-like than summer.

"You come out and it's 40s or 50s [overnight] and you wonder how well stuff's growing," said Reed.

It has bothered soy beans most.

"If you compare this yellow leaf here with the greener one, that's just lack of sunshine," said Reed.

But, it's that same slow progression that has put both corn and beans in a good place for growth potential.

"This week's supposed to be 80s and 90s. This corn with the moisture it has had and the cool weather, it's going to start bolting up, it's going to grow like crazy," said Reed.

Not everywhere in the state has had as good a luck. Farmers in the Gage to Adams county area say hail damage has decimated some fields as has heavy repeated rain in some areas.

Overall, though, Reed says Nebraska's fairing pretty well compared to the country.

"In southern Illinois at least for a while they were a month or so behind planting dates because it was so wet," said Reed.

But of course, after the sun, we'll too also need the rain.

"An inch and a half every week we'd be all right, but we don't have any control of that," said Reed.

While farmers will always take the rain there are areas of Nebraska where too much has fallen in short periods of time, along with damaging hail that's left crops in several counties devastated.

To read more on that, search "storm damage" in the upper left portion of your browser window.