Dry weather conditions hurting La. farmers

• Advocate business staff
• Published: Jun 18, 2009

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The current spate of dry weather approaching drought conditions has Louisiana farmers in a bind, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

Some of the state’s corn crop “is really suffering,” said Dr. Ronnie Levy, LSU AgCenter soybean and small grain specialist based in Alexandria. “Early-planted fields are doing OK, but later-planted corn is going to have yield losses.”

Levy pointed out that lack of rain primarily affects fields that are not irrigated, although production costs can rise as farmers spend more money pumping water onto dry fields.

The soybean crop is suffering more, Levy said, especially in south Louisiana where almost none is irrigated.

“Some of the fields won’t recover,” he added. “Once soybeans start to flower, they won’t get taller, and that limits the yield potential. With no forecast rain in the next week, we can see a large impact on yield.”

Levy said what may have been a 40-bushel-per-acre soybean crop may be reduced to 20 bushels per acre statewide.

“Dry weather is starting to have a significant impact on pasture and hay production around the state for the beef and dairy industries,” said Dr. Gary Hay, interim director of the LSU AgCenter’s School of Animal Sciences in Baton Rouge.

Because it is irrigated, rice generally doesn’t suffer much during dry weather, said Dr. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter rice specialist based in Crowley.

“On the positive side, dry weather usually means less disease, more sunlight and eventually higher yield potential,” Saichuk said.