The dry conditions helped, as saturated fields from a normal winter will limit growth. Larson said the early-summer harvest definitely would have set another record if the state had been spared the heavy rainfall the first weekend in April. The 6 to 8 inches of rain caused some water-logging and drowned out some wheat.
Wheat relies on a totally different time frame for moisture requirements compared to other crops.
Mississippi growers have been increasing their wheat acreage as low prices for all crops increase the appeal of wheat's relatively low cost to grow. Wheat also provides income earlier in the year than other crops and spreads out labor requirements. Access to irrigation and timely rains still influence some growers to take the gamble. Mississippi's acreage increased 28 percent last year with 180,000 planted in 1998 and 230,000 in 1999 for harvest this summer. Coahoma County agricultural agent Ann Ruscoe said wheat will easily exceed the five-year average because of the dry conditions, less insect and disease damage than expected, good plant populations in the fields and perfect harvest conditions.