Mississippi County
Agriculture
Mississippi County is the largest row crop county in Arkansas.
Each year it produces around a half a million acres of crops. During
2007, a quarter of a billion dollars worth of revenue was generated
in Mississippi County from row crop production.
Cotton (180,000 acres) and soybeans (220,000 acres) made up 80 %
of Mississippi County’s crop with rice (40,000 acres) contributing
another 10 % in 2008. Corn, grain sorghum, and wheat made up the
balance of the acreage.
Mississippi County has for the last couple of decades been the
number one cotton county in Arkansas, producing from 20-25% of the
state’s crop annually. During 2008, 12 gins were operating in the
county.
Beginning in 2007, cotton acres started declining as the economic
environment became more positive for soybeans and grains. Farmers
continue the balancing act of growing soybeans and grains, to
benefit from the profit potential with these crops, while still
growing enough cotton acreage to use their cotton equipment and to
keep the local gins in operation, so they will be in place when
cotton profit potential improves.
Following are some of the key issues of concern in agriculture
recently identified by the local County Extension Council (advisory
board).
Profitability - Extension projects recently conducted to
address this issue include; twin row production, tillage systems,
surge irrigation, foliar fertilizer usage, panel farms, multiple
inlet irrigation, grain storage bags, and the crop verification
program.
Pest management - Extension projects recently conducted to
address this issue include; rust monitoring, nematode control, seed
treatments, moth trapping program, weed resistance surveys, and
horseweed control.
Agricultural education & safety - Extension projects
recently conducted to address this issue include; AG in the
classroom (partnering with Farm Bureau), pesticide safety training,
pesticide disposal program, and sprayer equipment training.
Variety selection - Extension projects recently conducted
to address this issue include; cotton, corn, rice, and soybean
variety demonstrations.
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