The lack of rain across the Southeast continues to affect both the cotton and peanut harvest in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. In this week’s crop conditions report, U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at the latest major indicators for cotton crop progress.
Rippey says the nation’s peanut harvest is well ahead of the average.
In Alabama, 88 percent of the cotton bolls were open, which compares to 82 percent last year at this time. Twelve percent of the cotton crop has been harvested, which compares to only 5 percent this time last year. Fifty-seven percent of the peanuts had been dug, which compares to 27 percent this time last year. Thirty percent have already been harvested, which compares to only 16 percent last year.
In Florida, 68 percent of the cotton bolls were open, which compares to 67 percent last year at this time. Seven percent of the crop has been harvested, compared to 2 percent last year. Sixty-four percent of the peanuts had been dug, which compares to 56 percent this time last year. Forty-six percent have already been harvested, which compares to 39 percent this time last year.
In Georgia, 87 percent of the cotton bolls were open, which compares to 80 percent last year at this time. Eighteen percent of the crop has been harvested, compared to 5 percent last year. Forty-six percent of the peanuts have been dug, which compares to 37 percent this time last year. Twenty-eight percent have been harvested, which compares to 23 percent this time last year.