Heavy Rains Pause Planting

For the week ending May 10, 2015, rain fell statewide with an inch common in central counties and two or more inches of moisture recorded in many eastern and western areas, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Rainfall of six to ten inches was received in portions of the Southeast, resulting in lowland flooding and soil erosion. Replanting was expected. Up to two feet of snow fell in portions of the northern Panhandle over the weekend, stressing livestock.

 

 

 

Planting progress slowed due to the wet soil conditions, but were still ahead of average for most crops. There were 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies rated 6 percent very short, 17 short, 64 adequate, and 13 surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies rated 8 percent very short, 23 short, 63 adequate, and 6 surplus.

 

 

 

Corn planted was at 76 percent, near 72 last year, but ahead of the five-year average of 67. Corn emerged was 30 percent, ahead of 16 last year and 18 average.

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.