So far, the benefits of the moisture are outweighing the delays in getting crops planted.

According to Rick Griffith, agriculture manager at Holly Sugar in Torrington, Wyo., growers have about 75 percent of the sugarbeet crop planted, and should be back in the field by the end of the week.

"Were starting to see some crust developing, but we should be OK, if it doesnt get extremely hot and we dont get strong winds," Griffith said Monday afternoon.

Griffith said the early beets have emerged to full stands, and the ones planted before this last storm are beginning to emerge.

He said the beets should come up fairly quickly under current conditions, but the weeds are coming with them.

"The growers will have to start spraying for weeds as soon as its dry enough to get into the fields," he said.

Jerry Darnell, senior agriculturist for Western Sugar in Scottsbluff, said Monday that 85 percent of the 2001 crop is planted. Normally, about 98 percent is in the ground by now, but this year, the cold, wet weather has slowed the process.

"Im glad to see the sun," Darnell said. "I was beginning to worry about black root from the cold, damp days."

Darnell said the young plants are looking good, but farmers will have to control the weeds that are emerging.

Some farmers north of Scottsbluff with sandier soils are in the fields already, and by Thursday, Darnell expects growers will be planting beets again.

The moisture has been good for the corn crop as well. Some has already emerged, and with the warm temperatures, other fields will soon follow.

The same conditions have delayed irrigation of the hay crop in some areas and has benefited the crop as a whole.