Heavy Rains, Flooding Hurt Soybean, Rice Crops

Comments from Cooperative Extension Service Parish Agents

Todd Fontenot, Evangeline Parish
“Last week’s excessive rainfall ranging from 6 to over 12 inches really affected recently planted soybeans. Water remained on some fields for a number of days. Rains have also caused broken rice field levees resulting in loss of flood in recently top-dressed fields.”

Andrew Granger, Vermilion Parish
“Soybeans that got planted recently were hurt by heavy rains last week. Rice farmers have completed the top dressing of rice and rice will be heading soon. Disease pressure has been low due to the sporadic rain. Cattle ranchers are still working cattle and calves while breeding season is still ongoing. Sugarcane layby practices were all but complete and cane is making good growth. Significant hay harvest was carried out before the big rain last week.”

James Meaux, Calcasieu Parish
“Big rains in the middle of last week. Most areas of parish received 5-12″. Some late rice was flooded again. Some early rice is progressing towards heading. Pastures were still wet. Hopefully fields will dry out this week to resume soybean planting.”

Blair Hebert, Iberia Parish
“Heavy rains at end of week halted all field week. Sugarcane layby activities nearly done with crop growing well.”

Stuart Gauthier, Saint Martin Parish
“Last week a dry spell was broken by flooding rains that dumped over 7 inches in a short period of time over most of the parish. Growers will likely return to the fields next week to finish up layby work in cane fields. Spring vegetables were in full production. Hay producers were spraying, fertilizing, and preparing to make an additional cutting. Crawfish producers were fixing levees and repairing ponds.”