Area Agronomist Bill Burdine says 2013 was a solid to record year for area crops.
Burdine, speaking to the Bruce Rotary Club, said yields per acre in 2013 were 40 bushels for soybeans, 115 bushels for corn and 270 bushels for sweet potatoes around Calhoun County.
“That corn yield was one of the best we’ve ever had,” Burdine said. “Final numbers aren’t out yet for all of Mississippi, but I think we’re pushing a state record.”
He said the soybean yield of 40 bushels per acre equates to $485 per acre.
The sweet potato yields of 270 bushels per acre were down slightly, but Burdine said that still equates to a good year for the industry.
“Farmers aren’t complaining at 270,” Burdine said. “It’s not the 350s we have had a few times in the past, but good price and good yields, they’re doing pretty well.”
Burdine said the sweet potato industry generates approximately $70 million a year for Calhoun County. The next highest commodity is forestry.
“We have just as many acres of soybeans of sweet potatoes, but they only generate around $6 million,” Burdine said. “So you can see the value in sweet potatoes.”
Cotton was the biggest surprise of the year, Burdine said.
“I thought we would have a mediocre year at best,” he said. “But the weather turned at just the right time and we finished with a possible record year.”
“The cotton yields were phenomenal across Mississippi,” Burdine said. “I think when numbers are final, we will have an all time cotton yield for the state.”