It did not come down the way they would have preferred, but Monday's rain was a welcome sight for farmers across northeast Wisconsin. That allowed farmers to move ahead of the five-year average for the winter wheat harvest, which is now 51% complete, and the second cutting of alfalfa, which is 95% complete. It also helped crops continue to progress, with corn silking reaching 52%, soybean blooming at 78% and oat coloring at 83%. Monday's rain provided welcome relief for those crops, with parts of Kewaunee County receiving 1 to 3 inches of rain. Farmers may have another opportunity to thank Mother Nature later this week, with more rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.