Rains Continue to Disrupt Planting, Give Crops Trouble

By Ms. Bonnie A. Coblentz

Rainfall at well above normal accumulations is impacting the state’s row crops, mostly in a negative way.

Mike Brown, state climatologist with the Mississippi State University Department of Geosciences, said many areas of the state have had one and a half times the typical amount of rain for this time of year.

"Annually, we generally see around 58 inches of rain in our coastal counties, 52 in our northern counties, and around 55 inches through the central portion of the state,” Brown said. “Mid-August through mid-October tends to be our driest period.

“Many portions of the Delta began the year well above normal for precipitation, but those areas have seen a drier end of May and have remained at or just below average for June,” he said.

As of late June, Starkville, Greenville, Tupelo and Southaven have about 50% more rain than usual since the planting and growing season began. Meridian and Greenwood are just above normal levels, while Jackson, Biloxi and McComb have seen about one-third more rain than normal.

Dave Spencer, an Extension pivot irrigation specialist with the MSU Extension Service, said frequent rains limit farmers’ ability to manage their crops.

“In many areas, fieldwork has been delayed, especially on clay-textured soils,” Spencer said.

Rice, cotton, soybeans and sweet potatoes all suffered from frequent rains that kept fields too wet to plant in the ideal planting windows.

“Increased rainfall this spring delayed planting in many parts of the Delta,” said Will Eubank, Extension rice specialist. “Many farmers were able to get some rice in the ground in late March, but following that short planting window, we saw weekly showers that hindered further planting, herbicide applications and nitrogen applications.