IS961 Small Grains - Production Small Grains Production Small grains are grown throughout Mississippi for grain. Wheat is the primary crop, followed by oats. Rye is planted primarily for grazing but occasionally is harvested for grain. Yields of rye are generally poor.
Some barley is planted in the state, and again yields are poor, except in the northernmost counties.
Barley yields generally decline rapidly the farther south it is planted. Oat yields from 70 to 80 bushels per acre are common. Yields of more than 100 bushels per acre have been made under good management and favorable weather conditions. The most cold tolerant of the small grains is rye, followed by barley, wheat, and oats. Because of its cold tolerance, wheat is grown throughout Mississippi.