FARMERS across the region will have their backsides stuck in their tractor seats today as they frantically work to plant the last of their crop before nightfall.

Why? Because today marks the end of the summer planting window, which opened in October.

Long-time farmer Cliff Shelley said the rain over Christmas came just in time.

"The rain was good," he said.

"We got about 50mm at the house and probably 70mm in the fields.

"We could have started planting in October but we were just waiting for the rain."

Mr Shelley said he started planting corn last Saturday.

"I'm hoping to have it all finished by tomorrow," he said.

"It's the tail end of the season.

"If you don't get it in now you risk the crop being killed by an early frost."

Just to make sure he gets it all in the ground on time he recruited the help of his son Neil.

"Neil works for Wickham's," Mr Shelley said.

"He has a few days off so I put him to work."

In fact the Shelleys are running such a tight schedule Neil did not even have time to stop the tractor for a photo.

"I'll get him to slow down," Mr Shelley said.

"So you can grab a photo as he comes past."

Neil was not the only one stuck behind the wheel of a tractor yesterday with surrounding properties dotted with tractors making their way around the fields.

Mr Shelley said he had been farming along Freestone Rd since 1975 and before him his father farmed the same land.