Harvest slowed by rains

The delays continue for local farmers. With a few days free from rain last week, growers were able to get out in their fields to harvest soybeans, rice, corn and, in a few cases, cotton. However, rain has returned to the area, once more slowing down the process.

"It's frustrating," said Clay County Cooperative Extension chair Andy Vangilder. "Just when it looks like we'll be able to get out there and work, there's more rain coming along."

Vangilder said fields were still muddy last week, but conditions were not so bad as to keep farmers from their crops.

Cotton remains the area's most beleaguered crop. With a few days of sunshine, a few producers were able to begin harvesting cotton. According to Vangilder, approximately 15 fields have been picked thus far. Vangilder said the amount picked is most likely less than 1,000 of the 29,000 acres in the county.

Much of the cotton gathered so far has been taken to Graves Gin. Vangilder said the quality of this cotton, which is among the earliest planted of this year's crop, has been a little surprising, holding up better than some expected.

"It's not been terrible, but it has been hurt," Vangilder said. "We're hoping these are the lower yields and everything else is better."

However, with the current weather system slowing down work for at least the early part of the week, followed by more rain expected Thursday and Friday, those hopes may be in vain.

"We're hurting for better weather," Vangilder said. "You can just see the difference in our cotton when we get a good, sunshiny day. We keep waiting for the weather to turn around, but we just haven't had much luck."

Still, Clay County cotton is faring better than fields in the southern part of the state. Vangilder said his contacts from that region are reporting losses ranging from 40 to 50 percent, a level to which the local crop is not expected to drop.

The other crops in the county have fared better. Farmers have nearly completed harvesting corn and rice, with Vangilder reporting "decent" yields for each.

Vangilder estimated 30 to 40 percent of the soybean crop has been harvested. He said soybeans are doing well, with only a few scattered reports of mold.

"Most of the farmers are pleased with how their soybeans have turned out," Vangilder said.

For now, however, many local farmers will continue to look to the dark, dreary skies for any sign of the silver lining shining through.