In the face of challenging weather conditions, Mississippi's sweet potato sector is concluding its harvest with a robust output, according to Lorin Harvey, a sweet potato specialist at the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Despite a 15% decrease in production in 2023 due to severe drought, the current season has witnessed yields reaching 150% of the state's average in some areas. This improvement is attributed to favorable conditions early in the season, prompting an increased demand for storage solutions such as wooden crates.
However, the success has not been uniform across all operations. Those unable to plant at the optimal early dates have seen diminished yields. Efforts to plant earlier have mitigated some of the drought's impacts, but challenges such as labor timing and later planting dates have adversely affected some crops. Caleb Englert, a local producer and president of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, noted variability in yield and quality, largely dependent on rainfall distribution.
Additionally, the dry conditions have heightened the risk of insect damage and diseases like soil pox, a bacterial infection exacerbated by the heat and dryness. Despite these obstacles, Mississippi's sweet potato farms, spanning 30,100 acres across 15 counties, remain a significant contributor to the state's agricultural landscape, second only to North Carolina in production.
Market prices for sweet potatoes are currently ranging between 44 to 89 cents per pound, with Harvey expressing hope for a slight price increase to benefit farmers, though not expecting changes substantial enough to impact consumers significantly.
Source: MSU Extension