Leflore County farmers have been “been blessed with good weather and real good yields” in 2012, said Jerry Singleton, an agent with the Leflore County Extension Service.
Singleton said the state is on track for record high soybean and corn yields. That likely will mean that Leflore County’s soybean and corn yields will also set records.
Singleton said cotton and peanut yields also appear to be good despite some wet weather late in the season.
“We’re having a good year. I’m not saying there haven’t been hiccups along the way,” he said.
Farmer Justin Jefcoat was still busy this week trying to get his peanut crop harvested.
“We’ve probably got another two weeks to go,” he said.
Jefcoat said he’s experienced two types of delays — the weather and a shortage of drying trailers from Clint Williams Co., the owner of the crop.
“They’re real slow getting them back to us,” he said.
Jefcoat said he’s finished his cotton and soybean crops over the past month. He finished his corn harvest a couple of months ago.
“I’d say 99 percent of the crops are out,” said farmer Billy Whittington.
“We had a real good season. Everything’s out. That wet spell knocked us back a ways,” he said.
Six inches of rain didn’t help the cotton crop a few weeks ago, but the crop still turned out well, said Whittington, who has been busy preparing his fields for 2013.
Reese Pillow said he’s also spent the week preparing his fields for next year.
“We’re planting winter wheat. We probably finished our crops three weeks ago,” he said.
Jefcoat said he knows there is some cotton still in the field in the county. Add that to the peanuts that have yet to be harvested, and that means a headache for farmers heading into cold, damp winter.
“What we need is good, long dry spell,” Jefcoat said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
