Recent rains slow fertilizing of crops

Recent rains are slowing down the fertilizing of the parish’s top four crops – soybeans, rice, corn and soygrum — and the end of soybean planting.
Vince Deshotel, assistant extension agent at the St. Landry Parish LSU Ag Center office, said, “Corn and soygrum have all been planted. Some soybeans are planted, but there is still some soybean planting to do on the west side of the parish. We will wait for weather to improve and continue planting.
“Almost all the rice has been planted except the rice that will be planted in fields that are currently being used for crawfishing. The problem now is fertilizing and applying chemicals. Some fields have been done, but the rain has slowed that work down.”
Deshotel said the St. Landry Parish area received about 3 to 4 inches of rain on Wednesday, and 0.16 inch on Thursday.
“Standing water creates problems, and we are having problems with that in the eastern side of the parish,” Deshotel said.
He continued, “This needs this to be a good weather year. Prices of most commodities are questionably soft. We need a good growing year for farmers to be successful.”