WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Drenching rains force farmers to abandon crops

Drenching rains force farmers to abandon crops

EDWARDS, MS (WLBT) - A peek at the cotton and soybean fields around Bolton and Edwards in Hinds County tells a sad tale. Heavy rains during the past few weeks are forcing Mississippi farmers to abandon their ruined crops, leaving an estimated $377 million in losses.

Only a small percentage of the 3.6 million acres of cotton, soybeans, sweet potatoes, corn and rice across the state had already been harvested before the flooding rains.

Cotton is expected to be the hardest hit. Normally 61 percent of the state's cotton has been harvested by now. This year, only 61 percent has been harvested.

Soybeans are the state's largest crop, covering 2.2 million acres. Before the rain, estimated value of the soybean crops was $700 million. Those estimates have been downgraded to $537 million.

Some sweet potato farmers say this is the worst they've ever seen.

The Mississippi office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects statewide loss assessment totals next week. If a disaster is declared, farmers would be eligible for low-interest loans or, in some cases, reimbursement for revenue loss.