VIDALIA — The soybean harvest in the state of Louisiana is on the cusp of a successful year, as harvesting has started on more than one million acres of crops.

LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ron Levy said that while the first yields were excellent, the beginning of the year did not start well.

“We had a long drought period and a problem getting crops planted,” he said. “Although we had this, we did have low pressures from insect populations.”

Levy also said the state had little disease pressure on the crops.

“We have not really had any Asian soybean rust in Louisiana this year,” he said.

With low disease and pest problems Levy said the state could be looking at a recording-breaking year.

“A lot of fields are averaging 60 bushels an acre,” he said. “Some are getting upwards of 80 or 90.”

Levy said the usual average for crops is in the mid-30s.

“We have had a few that are in the teens or 20s,” he said. “But the majority of the crops have done well.”

Even with the future looking bright, Levy said the weather can still affect the later soybean harvest.

Monterey soybean farmer Greg Poole said his crop of soybeans has been one of the best ones he has had since he started farming.

“I am averaging around 40 to 45 bushels an acre,” he said. “Last year I was averaging in the 30s.”

Poole said he can attribute the good soybean crop to the weather.

“You are at the mercy of mother nature when you are a farmer,” he said. “This year we could not have asked for any better weather..”

Levy said the approximate 1.1 million acres of soybeans in the state make up the most acres grown of a crop in the state.

Poole also grows corn, and said this year he was off by approximately 30 to 50 bushels from last year.

“There was a dry spell in April and May that really sat and affected the corn crop,” Poole said.

With corn yields low and rice prices down, Levy said a successful soybean crop is something area farmers need.

“The price for soybeans is around $10.50 a bushel,” he said. “Most soybean farmers also plant corn or rice, and a successful soybean crop helps those farmers with their profitability.”