Mississippi Soybean Production in 2023

According to 2023 MSU-DAFVM statistics, soybeans are the second highest source of agricultural income in Mississippi. The following production summary of the state’s 2023 agricultural enterprises shows just how important a crop it is.

•    Soybean production produced the second most income of all agricultural enterprises in the state, following only poultry (including egg production).

•    Farm gate value of soybean production in 2023 was $1.557 billion, which is 17.8% of the total 2023 farm gate value of all agricultural and forestry production in the state (includes govt. payments).

•    The farm gate value of soybean production in the state exceeded that of cotton, corn, rice, and wheat combined.

•    Soybeans were produced on more farms than any other crop in the state.

•    The 2023 Mississippi soybean crop yielded an average of 57 bu/acre–a state record–and exceeded the national average yield of 49.9 bu/acre for the soybean crop in 2023 (from NASS).

There is no doubt that sustaining this level of soybean production in Mississippi will require a constant investment in research that will provide the new genetics and production technology needed to sustain and/or improve the ability of the crop to withstand current and new biotic and abiotic stresses.

Soybean production is not evenly distributed throughout the state. According to NASS, soybean production in 2022 was distributed as indicated in the below table.

From the above table, the following statistics were calculated for the 2022 soybean crop.

•    73.3% of the state’s harvested soybean acres were in the Delta.

•    79.3% of the state’s total soybean production (bushels) was in the Delta.

•    Average yield from the Delta soybean acres (58.9 bu/acre) was the highest of all regions, and average yield from the Northeast and East Central regions (34.2 bu/acre) was the lowest.

•    Relatively few soybean acres were harvested in south Mississippi.

Soybeans will likely remain the dominant crop in Mississippi in the coming years and will continue to be a major source of income for the state’s agricultural producers. Thus, it is incumbent upon public researchers, private researchers and consultants, the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service, private industry, and the various federal, state, and private funding entities to increase their support of efforts that will solve the myriad problems that affect the crop, both now and in the future, so that this valuable commodity continues its strong position in the Miss. agricultural sector.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Jan. 2024, larryh91746@gmail.com