By Bonnie Coblentz
MSU Extension Service
Corn and rice harvests wrapped up for Mississippi fields a bit ahead of schedule, helped by the ideal weather leading up to the harvest window.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated corn harvest was 96% complete by Sept. 22, 2024. This put harvest ahead of the five-year average, which typically has corn 89% harvested by that date.
USDA estimated rice was 87% harvested by Sept. 22, 2024, well ahead of the five-year average of 67% harvested by late September. Harvests for both crops were helped by five days of weather suitable for field work leading up to that date.
Erick Larson, corn specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said hot, dry weather during August and early September promoted an extremely quick and efficient corn harvest this year.
“Mississippi’s corn yield results vary widely depending primarily on irrigation capability,” Larson said. “The summer’s drought stressed dryland corn during key reproductive stages, which limited productivity considerably.”