Drier Weather Brings Progress for Louisiana Farmers
Dry weather conditions have allowed corn planting to come to a close this week, with rice and soybean planting moving forward, according to the latest Louisiana Crop Progress & Condition Report from the National Ag Statistics Service.
The wet field conditions from earlier in the planting season have not only pushed back the pace of planting this year, but have hurt crop conditions. The condition of corn and winter wheat has reached double-digits in the poor category and zero percent in the excellent category this week.
Comments from Cooperative Extension Service Parish Agents:
“Dry warm weather this past week made for good conditions to apply fertilizer, herbicides and plant soybeans and cotton. Cattle producers were able to cut and bale hay.” – Carol Pinnell-Alison, Franklin Parish
“The major portion of the soybean planting will take place as fields dry and ground conditions improve this week. However corn and grain sorghum producers say their stands are the worst they have ever had related to the prolonged soil saturation, weakening stands. Hay producers may have an opportunity to get in and cuts some high spots in the coming days. Livestock grazing is abundant. Most spring calving cow herds have been worked and ready for the summer season.” – Vincent Deshotel, Saint Landry Parish
“Heavy rains and flooding last week impacted grazing, rice stand establishment and completion of planting. Some sugarcane farmers were able to get back in the field to work and fertilize cane late during this week. For the most part farmers were able to get water off the rice to avoid major damage.” – Andrew Granger, Vermilion Parish
“Heavy rains have finally slacked off allowing some fieldwork to continue. Rice fields are delayed on spraying due to how saturated the ground.” – Frances Guidry, Jefferson Davis Parish
“Fields are starting to dry out from last weekend's flooding rains. Farmers should be back in the fields by early next week to resume planting soybeans and finish up planting rice. Heavy rains and cooler weather seem to have slowed sugarcane growth but also for the short term appears to have delayed sugarcane rust progress. Fire blight is severe in some pear varieties. Blackberries and peaches are being harvested. Hay producers are waiting for a dry spell to make a cutting.” – Stuart Gauthier, Saint Martin Parish
“Week started wet, but nice and sunny weather dried it up. Work continues in field. Coastal Tides are still high making it difficult to get to some low lying areas.” – Reed Himel, Terrebonne Parish