By Jolene FarleyMost of Rock County has dodged the downpours and flooding that has plagued counties just across the South Dakota border.For the most part, local producers are optimistic that this year will be a good year for farmers. Hills Brothers Farms, two miles west of Hills, has tracked the rainfall so far this year, according to Gene "Pucky" Sandager. Sandagers have recorded rainfall amounts for their land since 1992.Hills Brothers Farm has received 2.7 inches of rain so far this month, while last year they received 3.5 inches of rain in June.During May this year, Sandager received 5.6 inches of rain compared with 3.9 inches in May last year."We’ve missed the ones (downpours) out of Sioux Falls," he said. "Those fronts have been coming up and staying west of us."Sandager, who just returned from a trip, saw standing water in fields south of Sioux Falls while flying overhead in a plane.Although the amount of rain hasn’t caused a problem for Sandager, the frequency of the rain has made haying difficult.All you need is a small amount of rainfall or heavy dew and you have to re-tip the hay or use a dryer, according to Sandager. There has been a stretch of only four days when conditions were ideal for drying the hay. Hills Brothers Farm has corn that is about knee high and will grow more rapidly as temperatures increase. The corn crop "looks very good" Sandager said, and he is optimistic about the bean crop, too."We’ve got a chance at some good crops," he said.Weed control has been the biggest issue this spring in Rock County, according to Southwest Minnesota Farmers Coop Agronomy Production Specialist Dustin Warns."Due to the longer spring, cool and dry conditions early on, pre-plant and pre-emerge herbicides weren’t as effective this year," he said.Post-emerge chemical applications are less effective this year because weeds aren’t actively growing.The county is also behind on heat units due to the cooler conditions the last week, according to Warns. Nitrogen leeching out of the soil in low-lying areas has been an issue in the portion of the county that received more rain. "Hardwick seems to be an area that got a little more rainfall than some of the others," Warns said.LeRoy Kellenberger, who farms three miles north of Hills, is also optimistic about his crops this year. "They’re looking good. For as long as the corn has been in the ground maybe a little behind, but she’s coming," he said."We’re getting the rains about right," he said.Kellenberger received a small amount of hail during a storm about a month ago but there wasn’t any lasting damage to his crops. Kellenberger has a weather wish list to make his crops grow this year."Bring on some sunshine and warm weather and slow the wind up so we can finish spraying," he said.