NATCHEZ — Mississippi agriculture experts are hoping the forecast of sunny, dry weather for this week will hold true.

“We haven’t harvested a soybean in the state in two weeks because of all the wet, cloudy weather,” said Trey Koger, a soybean specialist with Mississippi State University.

Soybean seeds have to be dry in order to thrash the seed out of the pod when it is run though a combine, and the constant moisture has made that impossible, Koger said.

Meanwhile, the crop is taking a hit in quality and yield, including on the vine seed rot.

Some of the beans in Adams County were planted following the spring high water, Koger said.

“Those plants weren’t real close to maturity, leaving them vulnerable to seed rot and other quality issues with the rain,” he said.

With sun and mild wind, farmers could get back to harvesting three days after the last rain cleared up, provided the ground isn’t so damp that their combines will rut up the field, Koger said.

Meanwhile, while cotton isn’t ready to be harvested yet, the continuous moisture has put off the initial stages of preparation.

“Some folks have wanted to start applying defoliation chemicals and haven’t been able to because of the rainfall,” said Darrin Dodds, an MSU cotton specialist.

The extended moisture could also lead to boll rot, and in some cases the seeds in the bolls have started to sprout, which not only affects the boll but the future sale of seed from cotton gins.

“When the rainfall has germinated those seedlings, they become essentially worthless,” Dodds said.

Some of the corn left in the fields has also begun to have the same problems, he said.

“You hate to look rain in the mouth, but this time of year we don’t need it,” he said. “When you are trying to harvest and you have crops in the field ready to go, you don’t need it.”