Louisiana farmers set several yield records in 2012

Despite drought conditions and a hurricane, 2012 was an excellent year for Louisiana farmers, reports the LSU AgCenter, with many of the state’s major commodities seeing record yields and historically high prices. AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says good production practices and a lot of luck with precipitation helped. “We were relatively dry overall. But in many cases, we got just enough rain to keep the crops growing,” Guidry says. Corn, soybeans, rice, cotton and grain sorghum all set yield records this year. And while farmers are still harvesting the state’s sugarcane crop, the reported yields so far are at record levels. Moreover, drought in other parts of the country kept prices high for corn, soybeans, grain sorghum and wheat throughout the year. Though prices have moderated from highs earlier this year, when the national drought was headline news, Guidry expects them to remain strong. The agriculture industry in Louisiana was worth an estimated $6 billion in 2011. With high prices and yields, the 2012 number will likely be higher when the final tally is in, says the AgCenter, which has more details on today’s commodities report here.