Farms.com Home   News

Record Yields, Prices Push Mississippi Soybeans To Second Spot

A new record average yield of 42 bushels per acre pushed soybeans to a record value of more than $1 billion, boosting the crop to second among Mississippi’s agricultural commodities.

Soybeans have an estimated 2012 value of $1.16 billion, up 37 percent from $842 million in 2011. Soybeans came in behind poultry but for the first time were ahead of forestry in the ranking of the state’s top three crops.

Trent Irby, soybean specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said high yields and high prices combinedto create this historic mark. “Soybeans have been an important crop in Mississippi for a number of years. In recent years, favorable market prices, as well as higher yields that many producers realized, have made soybeans a popular choice for our growers.”

Mississippi growers harvested an estimated 2 million acres of soybeans in 2012, which is an increase from 2011 acreage but still in line with recent averages. This figure puts Mississippi twelfthnationally in soybean acreage.

“Favorable market prices as well as timely rains and light pest pressure across many areas helped make this a good year for soybeans,” Irby said.

Soybeans in Mississippi typically are planted during a wide window as a management strategy that, among other things, helps minimize risks associated with weather. In 2012, the state’s soybeans were planted from late March through early July.

“Even good years have challenges,” Irby said. “Lack of rainfall early in the growing season caused some of our soybean acres to suffer quite a bit. When our growers encounter a problem that can be managed, they manage it. However, noone can control the weather.”

Brian Williams, Extension agricultural economist, said soybeans began the year at $11.98 a bushel and slowly rose through spring to $14.70 a bushel in May. After slumping briefly, prices rose to a July 20 high of $17.90 a bushel.

“Soybean prices remained above $16 a bushel until late September as news of a better-than-expected harvest began to flow in,” Williams said. “Prices have been somewhat volatile in the fall but have mostly stayedwithin the $14 to $16 range.”

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Types of Root Systems

Video: Types of Root Systems

Farm Basics from Ag PhD Episode #1355 | Air Date 3/24/24 - Brian and Darren dig into why knowing your roots below the surface, can help protect your profits above it.