RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi’s agriculture industry remains vibrant with an overall production value estimated at $9 billion, despite a drop in row crop prices.

Poultry is again the No. 1 sector of the agricultural industry with a value of $3.8 billion, up 10.5% from 2023.

A rebound in broiler production in 2024 contributed to the commodity’s stronger showing over last year, said Josh Maples, an agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

“Price was up slightly, but this is really more of a production story,” he said. “Mississippi produced an estimated 731 million broiler chickens in 2024, which is 3% higher than in 2023. It is not out of the question that the industry could hit a $4 billion value of production total sometime in the next 5 years.”

Forestry holds second place with a $1.5 billion value, holding steady from 2023.

“Mississippi prices trended up slightly each quarter, but prices on average were down in 2024 versus 2023,” said Eric McConnell, associate professor of forest business in the MSU Department of Forestry and Forest and Wildlife Research Center. “There was $727.9 million paid to landowners for standing timber, while harvest and trucking added $756.4 million of value to the industry.”

Soybeans ranked third with a value of $1.3 billion. Although soybean yield is expected to tie last year’s record at 56 bushels per acre, the crop saw a 22% drop in value from last year.

Will Maples, an agricultural economist with MSU Extension, said waning prices are to blame.

“While we have planted similar acres of soybeans over the last three years, prices have declined year over year, driving the crop value estimates lower,” Will Maples said. “Increases in livestock prices have helped limit the decline of the overall value of ag in the state since 2022.”

Livestock, which includes beef cattle, dairy cattle and hogs, ranked fourth overall behind soybeans, with a value of $578 million, a 14% increase from 2023.

With more rain for non-irrigated acres, soybean yield could possibly have hit a new record. Final yield estimates will be announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Jan. 10, 2025.

“As always, when you talk about weather, it really just depends on where you’re standing,” said Trent Irby, an associate director with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the former state soybean specialist. “We had some areas of non-irrigated production that had really favorable yields due to a few well-timed rain events, but many areas of the state took a big yield hit from lack of rainfall.”

Irrigation helps protect yield during drought years but advancing science and crop management are also important factors.

“The increases we have seen in yield as a state are a result of improved plant genetics and overall best management practices that our growers have implemented,” Irby said.

Cotton is the second most valuable row crop with an estimated value of $496 million, a gain of 34% from 2023, which is attributed to an increase in acreage.

Cotton producers planted 520,000 acres -- up almost 30% from 2023. Yield is estimated at 1,118 pounds of lint per acre, an 8.3% increase.

“Some of the greatest yields occurred in the Delta, especially the north Delta where timely summertime rains occurred,” said Brian Pieralisi, MSU Extension cotton specialist. “We fared pretty well with the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Francine. Most of our crop was not at a stage for the devastating damage that is expected from hurricanes of this magnitude.

“Some of the early planted cotton had issues with hardlock and boll rot because of the associated rainfall,” he said, “but overall, fiber quality was good.”

Corn is valued at $374 million, a decline of 50%, as a result of decreased acreage and lower prices. Producers harvested about 580,000 acres this year, down from 790,000 acres in 2023. Although yield was better this year, prices are down over $1 compared to last year, Will Maples said.

“Each year corn and cotton trade acres so that is why we see one commodity higher and the other lower year over year,” he said.

The value of catfish declined 18% from last year, landing that commodity in seventh place with a value of $214 million. Mississippi still leads the nation in catfish production with 29,000 acres. That is twice as many acres as Arkansas and Alabama, which round out the nation’s top three catfish producing states.

Multiple challenges, including marketing difficulties, high operating costs and decreased prices, have led to slight decreases in Mississippi’s catfish acreage in the last several years.

Among other commodities in the state, hay is valued at $171 million, up 13%. Rice production value is $168 million, a gain of 20%. That increase was due to a rise in acreage. The state’s specialty crops are worth $115 million, an increase of 2%.

Sweet potatoes are valued at $82 million, a 10% decline from 2023. Peanut producers harvested 25,500 acres, 30% more than last year. The crop has a value of $24.5 million, up 11% from 2023. Wheat value plunged 41% to $19 million.

Each year, eligible producers receive a variety of government payments through safety net plans, including crop insurance and relief efforts. Those payments totaled $214 million this year, down 19.5% from 2023. These payments are included in the total value of production for the state.