MONTEREY, La. — Richard Harriss takes part of the blame for his partly damaged corn crop, but he says Mother Nature had a hand in it too.

&uot;Part of my corn crop was hurt by dry weather in May and part of June, but that’s what you get when you plant corn, don’t irrigate and end up without rain,&uot;&160;said Harriss, who farms at two locations in Adams County. &uot;On the other hand, my cotton crop is looking excellent this year.&uot;

Most of the Miss-Lou’s crops are in good condition so far despite some drought damage to corn in late spring and a mixed bag of weather conditions, according to local farmers.

In Louisiana corn, cotton, rice, soybeans and sorghum are all maturing ahead of schedule and the majority of farmers — including 79 percent of cotton farmers — have reported good to excellent crop conditions, according to the latest figures from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

&uot;Overall, I’d have to say it’s been a good year,&uot;&160;said Lee Bean, general manager of Angelina Plantation near Monterey. &uot;We’ve had a better start on cotton than in past years and an exceptionally good wheat year.&uot;

In Mississippi corn, cotton, sorghum and soybeans are maturing a little slower than last year but ahead of the five-year average, with only rice maturing slower than normal, according to NASS statistics. Still, more than 70 percent of those who farm corn, cotton, rice, sorghum and soybeans in Mississippi have reported their crop conditions as being good to excellent.

As of the last week of June, the last period for which figures were available, precipitation was just slightly below normal at Natchez.

&uot;It all depends on where you are, though,&uot;&160;Harriss said. &uot;At one of the places I&160;farm, they need more rain, … but at my own place we have adequate moisture, especially for cotton.

At St. Joseph, the Louisiana reporting site nearest to Concordia Parish, 23.28 inches of rain had fallen since the start of the year, more than seven inches below normal. &uot;Higher temperatures are causing evaporation, but for most of the corn crop, it’s time for the corn to dry anyway,&uot;&160;Bean said. &uot;It’s not a critical situation.&uot;

The only glitch is that because of current warm temperatures and a mild winter, insects are more of a problem than in the past. &uot;We’ve had to spray more than normal for stinkbugs,&uot;&160;Bean said.

But in Mississippi, the boll weevil eradication program, which is now in its fourth year, is making a big difference, Harriss said.

&uot;We have very little insect pressure,&uot; he added.