2006 Mid-South harvest early for some crops
Sep 27, 2006 9:15 AM,
By Elton Robinson
Farm Press Editorial Staff
The 2006 harvest season is a little ahead of schedule in the Mid-South, according to USDA’s Sept. 25 crop progress report. In some areas, however, crop conditions are iffy at best.
About 17 percent of the U.S. cotton crop has been harvested, compared to 15 percent last year and a five-year average of 14 percent.
Mississippi’s crop is 43 percent harvested compared to 17 percent last year and a five-year average of 18 percent. Louisiana’s cotton crop is 40 percent harvested, compared to last year’s 36 percent and five-year average of 23 percent. Arkansas producers have harvested 17 percent of their crop compared to 14 percent a year ago and a five-year average of 9 percent. Tennessee and Missouri had harvested less that 10 percent of their crops by Sept. 24.
Thirty-nine percent of the U.S. cotton crop is listed in good to excellent condition, compared to 58 percent last year. For Tennessee, 76 percent is listed in good to excellent condition, compared to 46 percent for Louisiana, 39 percent for Mississippi, 71 percent for Missouri and 67 percent for Arkansas.
Meanwhile, 73 percent of Alabama’s crop is listed in poor to very condition, compared to 46 percent for Texas, 58 percent for Oklahoma, and 32 percent for Mississippi.
About 69 percent of the U.S. rice crop has been harvested compared to 58 percent last year and five-year average of 63 percent. Louisiana growers have harvested 96 percent of their rice; Mississippi, 84 percent; and Missouri, 52 percent. California and Texas have harvested 31 percent and 98 percent of their rice crop, respectively.
As of the week ending Sept. 24, about 13 percent of the U.S. corn crop has been harvested compared to 17 percent a year ago, and a five-year average of 15 percent. Tennessee’s corn crop is now 73 percent harvested compared to 58 percent a year ago. A little over 61 percent of the U.S. crop is listed in good to excellent condition.
U.S. soybean producers have harvested 9 percent of this year’s crop, compared to 17 percent a year ago and a five-year average of 12 percent. Mississippi has harvested 87 percent of its soybean crop compared to 76 percent a year ago and a five-year average of 62 percent. Louisiana has harvested 73 percent of its soybean crop, compared to 71 percent last year and a five-year average of 46 percent. Arkansas has harvested 32 percent of its soybean crop, while Tennessee has harvested 18 percent.
Sixty-two percent of the U.S. soybean crop is listed in good to excellent condition. In Mississippi, however, only 39 percent is listed in good to excellent condition. About 32 percent of Mississippi’s crop is listed in poor to very poor condition.
e-mail: erobinson@farmpress.com
