The Lexington Advertiser

Holmes Scores In Cotton Yield

Holmes County was second highest county in Mississippi in cotton production during 1961 with an average of 607 pounds of lint cotton per acre.

With 36,000 acres planted in cotton, Holmes County produced 45,600 bales worth approximately $160.00 per bale. Cotton and cottonseed brought $8,141,600.00 to Holmes producers.

Corn production is up 44.3 bushels per acre in Holmes County with 17,600 acres planted in corn in 1961. This compares favorably with the 1961 top yield in the state of 50.4 established by Coahoma County and is up considerably over the 14½ bushel average recorded in Holmes County fifteen years ago.

Sharkey County, an all-Delta county, was first in the state with an average of 621 pounds of lint cotton per acre, according to the final report released by Mississippi Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. Sharkey County is comprised mostly of large farms.

Only one-third of Holmes County's area is Delta land and if cotton production of planters in this area was averaged out the production figure for 1961 would be about 750 pounds of lint cotton per acre, according to County Agent W. R. Sullivan.

Out of 1,700-plus farmers in Holmes County who hold cotton allotments, 1,200-plus have allotments of 15 or less acres.

Leflore and Coahoma counties tied for third place in the state with 598 pounds of lint cotton produced per acre. The other top counties were Washington, fourth, with 592 pounds; Sunflower, fifth, 581 pounds; Quitman, sixth, 578 pounds; Humphreys, seventh, 576 pounds; Bolivar, eighth, 573 pounds; and Issaquena, ninth, 568 pounds. All of the top ten producing counties, including Holmes, are considered Delta counties.

Neighboring counties to Holmes include Madison, Yazoo, Montgomery, Carroll, Attala and Leake.

In Madison County production was 291 pounds of lint cotton per acre with 31,800 acres planted which produced 18,200 bales. Yazoo County averaged 552 pounds per acre from 46,700 acres planted.

Montgomery averaged 440 pounds, Carroll 437, Attala 326, and Leake 293.

Approximately one-half of Holmes County's cotton production was hand-picked and brought 34 and 35 cents per pound, with each bale worth $170-175. Machine-picked cotton brought about 32 cents per pound.

Corn Production Is Up In Holmes

Corn production is up in Holmes County to 44.3 bushels per acre, according to the state reporting service produced under the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The 44.3 figure for Holmes County is up considerably over average production fifteen years ago - only 14½ bushels per acre.

Top county in the state in corn yield was Coahoma County with an average of 50.4 bushels per acre. Coahoma, however, planted only 2,800 acres in corn, while Holmes County farmers planted 17,600 acres.

Issaquena County was second in the state in corn yield with 50.3 bushels per acre on 1,000 acres.

Neighboring Madison County planted 16,500 acres in corn and averaged 42.3 bushels per acre while Yazoo County planted 20,000 acres and averaged 40.3 bushels.

Prospects "Good"

Prospects for another good crop year are still good, according to reports of the County Agent and other extension personnel. Two weeks ago they were regarded as "excellent."

Both pastures and corn are suffering now from lack of rain and cotton also needs a rain. If the county does not get a rain in four or five days the 1962 yields will definitely be cut, the County Agent said.

Holmes County's allotment for the 1962 season is 40,366 cotton acres. Of this number 2,896 were received from the State Committee as a result of many acres being released in south Mississippi.