Good Harvests In La. Despite Drought

Although most of Louisiana is an agricultural disaster area, it's hard to see that in harvest predictions. The most recent federal estimates are for record and near-record yields of soybeans, rice and corn.

Cotton is also up from last year, when nearly constant rain at the peak of harvest season washed out hopes for decent yields for crops like soybeans, cotton and sweet potatoes.

Fifty-four parishes were rain disaster areas last year; on Wednesday, 36 were declared drought disaster areas.

LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says that despite the drought, yields are average to above average for most crops. But he says drought did limit yields and — for farmers with irrigation — increased costs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's next monthly predictions will be released between the 9th and 12th.