Jackson, Mississippi Farmers are finally catching up on cotton planting, but experts are worried that the late start could expose the crop to more insects than if wet weather hadn't delayed planting.
Mississippi farmers had intended to plant corn on many acres in hopes of cashing in on high prices. But winter and spring rains left many fields waterlogged, making it hard for tractors to plant as early as required for corn.
Cotton and soybeans cane be planted later, and farmers' plans for cotton ballooned to 340,000 acres from what had been projected to be a historic low of about 200,000.
But much cotton died and had to be replanted, and Mississippi State University experts are warning that insect populations could build because of the late start.