Heavy recent rains are keeping southwestern Indiana farmers out of their fields, delaying the planting of the corn crop and threatening to cut into yields come harvest time.

Warrick County farmer Peter Rudolph says he likes to start planting by the first of May, but has yet to start due to wet fields.

Posey County co-op manager Jim Swinney says most farmers are about a month behind schedule getting their corn crop in the ground. He says some farms have been hit harder than others by the rain.

Delays in planting means pollination won't occur until later in the summer when conditions are usually hotter, drier and less favorable.

Farmers are also spending more this year on seed, chemicals and fertilizer.