In addition to the uncertainty caused by high fuel prices, higher feed costs for livestock and tight credit, farmers in Missouri and Illinois are facing one of the wettest planting seasons in years.

That means many farmers are several weeks late planting corn, and some are switching to soybeans, which can be planted later.

Agriculture observers say 2008 is shaping up as one of higher-than-usual risks for farmers.

"Farmers are handling a lot more money than ever before, but their net income will probably decrease" because of sharply higher fuel and fertilizer costs, as well as the cost of credit, said Gene Danekas, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's statistics office for Missouri.

In late April, when Missouri farmers usually have two-thirds of their corn crop planted, only 8 percent of the seeds were in the ground, Danekas said.

Illinois farmers are a little better off, with slightly more than one-fifth of the corn crop planted, compared to an average of three-fourths usually planted by this time, said Brad Schwab, head of the Agriculture Department's statistics office for Illinois.

If the corn crop isn't planted by mid-May, Danekas said, the later-maturing corn can be damaged by the high heat of July and August.

Last year, more farmers planted corn to meet demand from ethanol producers. This year, the shift is back toward soybeans.

In March, the Agriculture Department estimated Missouri producers would plant 3.1 million acres of corn, compared with 3.45 million acres in 2007. They also were expected to plant 5.2 million acres of soybeans; last year, they planted 4.6 million acres.

In Illinois, farmers are expected to put in 12.6 million acres of corn, compared to 13.2 million acres in 2007. They also are expected to plant 8.8 million acres of soybeans, compared to 8.2 million acres in 2007.