Nebraska farmers are eyeing the forecast just in a case the early spring takes a turn back to winter.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in the weekly crop report on Monday that the first fields of corn have been planted, but most farmers are waiting a little longer to avoid a freeze.

The report says soil temperatures last week climbed into the 50s and 60s, well above the 30s and 40s of a year ago.

Soil moisture remains below last year and the five-year average.

Limited or no precipitation fell last week, but some isolated areas in south central and southeast Nebraska received over an inch of rain.

Farmers are making good progress on applying fertilizer, performing spring tillage and getting machinery ready for planting season.