Last week was another good week across the Southeast for harvest of the cotton and peanut crops. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey says nearly all of the country’s cotton bolls were open as of this past Sunday.
But Rippey says the nation’s peanut harvest progress is behind last year and the five-year average.
In Alabama, 96% of the cotton bolls are open, which compares to 98% last year and the five-year average of 95%. Cotton harvest was 34% complete, while last year it was at 57% and the 5-year average of 54%. As for the peanut harvest, 79% had been dug, which compares to 92% last year; 62% had been harvested which compares to 86% last year and the 5-year average of 76%.
In Florida, 92% of the cotton bolls were open, which compares to 88% last year and the five-year average of 85%. Cotton harvest was only 9% complete, while last year it was at 32%, and the 5-year average is 27%. As for the peanut harvest, 89% had been dug, which compares to 93% last year and the 5-year average of 94%; 76% percent had been harvested, which compares to 86% last year and the 5-year average of 86%.
In Georgia, 92% of the cotton bolls were open, which compares to 97% last year and the five-year average of 97%. Cotton harvested was at 27%, which compares to 54% last year and the 5-year average of 43%. As for the peanut harvest, 76% had been dug which compares to 90% last year and the 5-year average of 84%. Peanuts harvested were at 59%, which compares to 80% last year and the 5-year average of 70%.