Published: July 14, 2009 01:24 pm      

Rain: A welcomed event for Mississippi crops

JACKSON — Rain moved across Mississippi on Tuesday giving farmers hope the dry conditions that put stress on their row crops may be finally ending.

Showers are also predicted later this week for much of Mississippi. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in its weekly crop report, said many row crops were showing signs of stress due to drought-like conditions and soil moisture was rated 57 percent “very poor.”

The report said 53 percent of Mississippi’s corn crop was rated poor or fair and 50 percent of soybeans and 48 percent of cotton received the same ratings.

In the report, Amanda Walker, a farm extension service director for Lawrence County, said recent light rain has been a small relief in her area but much more is needed.