1994 Mississippi Crop Report
Record harvests push farm value to $4.5 billion
By Linda Breazeale
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's value of farm production reached a record $4.51 billion for 1994, beating the previous year's record by $544 million. All three of the state's top agricultural commodities -- poultry/eggs, timber and cotton -- set records in farm production values.
"A $4.51 billion in farm value translates into about $18 billion in economic impact in the state," said Dr. Bob Williams, interim state leader of agriculture and natural resources at Mississippi State University. "This economic level continues to indicate the importance of agriculture in Mississippi."
The net farm income for Mississippi is estimated to be $700 million for 1994, which is an increase of $247 million from the previous year. The 1994 net farm income is the fourth highest for the state.
Poultry and eggs with almost $1.08 billion in farm value replaced timber as the top agriculture enterprise in the state. 1994 is the first year for poultry and eggs to hit the billion dollar mark.
"Mississippi posted a 15 percent increase in broiler production coupled with a slight increase in broiler prices," Williams said. "Nationally, broiler production is increasing at the rate of 5 percent."
Timber registered its second year in the billion dollar club with a farm value of $1.07 billion. Dr. Bob Daniels, extension forestry specialist at MSU, said pine saw timber was the driving force behind timber's good year.
"Delivery prices for pine sawlogs, poles and ply logs were about 11 percent higher than in 1993," Daniels said. "Volume for Mississippi's timber products in 1994 remained near the previous year's levels."
Cotton posted the largest increase of $216 million for an estimated value of $844 million in farm production. Williams said about 600,000 more bales of cotton were produced in the state in 1994 than the previous year and prices remained favorable.
Dr. Will McCarty, extension cotton specialist at MSU, said the 1994 crop was one of the top four cotton crops the state has produced. The crop's main problems were with late season rains which delayed harvest and reduced some quality.
Soybeans reached the fourth spot in Mississippi agriculture with an estimated farm value of $325 million, up $42 million from 1993.
"Soybean yields, at 29 bushels per acre, were excellent and caused Mississippi production to increase by more than 12 million bushels," Williams said. "However, because of the record U.S. crop, prices were lower."
A seriously depressed market resulted in meat animals as the only commodity with a farm value loss in 1994. In the No. 5 spot, meat animals were valued at $275 million, down $21 million. Williams said livestock prices are expected to remain low in 1995.
Other farm enterprises and their 1994 estimated value of farm production were:
- Catfish, $260 million -- up $16 million
- Food grains, $221 million -- up $26 million
- Feed crops, $186 million -- up $47 million
- Horticultural crops, $115 million -- up $14 million
- Milk, $104 million (no change)
- Conservation reserve, $37 million (no change)
Williams said record yields in corn, grain sorghum and rice along with near-record yields in cotton and soybeans were major factors in the strong 1994 figures.
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Released: Dec. 13,
1994
Contact: Dr. Bob Williams -- (601) 325-8737
Weekly crop reports are prepared for the news media throughout the growing season, typically March through October. Most articles are valid for use within three weeks of their release date.