DeKALB | There may still be snow on the ground, but the DeKalb farming community isn’t waiting for the grass to grow.

“We could use more rain,” said Lyle Paul, an agronomist with University of Illinois Agronomy Research. “Some projections say a drier than normal summer.”

Predicting and understanding the weather’s effect plays an important role in planting crops.

Paul said that for good soil penetration, “the ground must not be frozen; otherwise, [the water] runs off.”

It’s also important that the ground dries after precipitation for planting seeds.

The main crops in DeKalb are corn and soy beans.

Paul said corn planting usually takes place about mid-April, with soy beans following in early May.

Last year’s corn yield was the highest in DeKalb history, according to the Illinois Agricultural Statistic Service, Paul said.

The weather is hard to predict, and Paul said, “We hope for average or better.”

“It varies, depending on weather and the timing of weather,” said Greg Millburg, manager of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau.

Although certain varieties of crops can be fairly drought resistant, water supply is important, Millburg said.

“Last year, we wound up with average rainfall,” said NIU Staff Meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste.

Sebenste also said while this year’s models have been inconsistent, he is encouraged by the amount of rain he’s seen this year.

“We need all the moisture we can get,” Sebenste said.