Extreme Weather Impacts Mississippi Soybeans

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Extreme temperatures and rainfall cause erratic yields in Mississippi’s early-planted soybean crop this year.

Mississippi State University experts say it went from cool, wet conditions in the early spring, to hot and dry conditions during a critical point in the season.

The Magnolia State is expected to harvest more than two million acres of soybeans this fall.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the crop was 59 percent harvested by September 29. 66 percent of it is in good condition, while 11 percent could be in poor condition.

The USDA projects a state average yield of 48 bushels an acre this year.

Last year, it was a record 52 bushels.