Wheat Harvest Passes Half-Way Mark; Sweet Potato Planting Running Late
Wheat harvest is now half done, according to the latest Crop Progress & Condition report from the Louisiana Ag Statistics Service. However, the condition of the crop is less than ideal. Fifty-one percent of the crop is rated fair to poor.
Sweet potato planting is 40 percent done, well behind the average pace of 52 percent.
Comments from Cooperative Extension Service Parish Agents:
“Rained at end of the week which helped relieve producers for a while from irrigating. Crops looking good.” – Carol Pinnell-Alison, Franklin Parish
“Back to overcast, cloudy, and wet. Early spring seeded crops are well into the productive stage with some rice and grain sorghum going into heading soon, and corn filling the ear. We need a break from the rain with more days of sun and drier conditions for a while. Late planted soybeans are struggling with wet conditions in areas. Rust is present in most sugarcane fields. Crawfish ponds are being drained and new ponds are being seeded. Hay producers have fields of over grown hay again this year with saturated soils and plenty of weed problems. However pastures are lush with plenty of forage even clover going into summer. Gardeners are challenged with disease problems. Too wet in many areas. Mosquitos are here and causing problems for livestock.” – Vincent Deshotel, Saint Landry Parish
“Rain late this week hampered soybean planting and hay cutting. The parish had another 3 to 5 inches that fell across the parish. Early rice is beginning to head and some that was replanted is going to flood. Rice crop is starting to look better as it gets older.” – Jimmy Meaux, Calcasieu Parish
“Rains continue to hamper fieldwork progress. Cane is making excellent growth. West Indian Cane fly is showing up in low levels in cane fields and cane seems to be outgrowing brown rust issues. Some smut is showing up in 299 variety. Soybeans in well drained fields are making good growth but beans planted in poorly drained areas continue to battle water logged conditions. Rust is defoliating fig trees causing concern that fig crop may be limited. Some scab is developing in pecan trees. Blueberries are coming into peak production. Spring vegetables are producing but continued rains are accelerating disease pressure.” – Stuart Gauthier, Saint Martin Parish
“Drier and warmer weather at start of week has sugarcane farmers all but done with fertilizer and lay by activities. Warmer temperatures should help slow rust in sugarcane, but now sugarcane farmers are turning their attention to the West Indian Cane Fly. Cattle producers are "working" cows and calves. Home gardens, soybeans, and rice are progressing nicely. Heavy rains at end of week stopped all fieldwork.” – Blair Hebert, Iberia Parish
“The first part of the week was dry and sunny, but the latter was rainy and wet. Work continues in fields.” – Reed Himel, Terrebonne Parish