Mississippi Corn Crop Heads for Early Harvest

Mississippi's corn crop is expected to have an early harvest this year due to warmer-than-normal spring temperatures and early planting. According to Erick Larson, corn specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, most of the crop will be mature by the end of July.

The state's growers planted about 780,000 acres of corn, down from a record 910,000 acres in 2025. Despite some pest and disease issues, including kernel abortion in the tips of ears due to anaerobic soils, Larson said that most of these problems have been minimal.

Tom Allen, Extension plant pathologist and researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, noted that fungus can invade areas where tip dieback has occurred. He warned growers who notice significant levels of tip dieback to seek assistance in determining which fungi may inhabit the ears if any fungal growth is observed.

With growth complete, ideal weather for corn is high temperatures without rain, allowing corn ears to dry down before harvest. According to Josh Tilley, Extension agent in Noxubee County, the crop in east Mississippi is headed to an early harvest the first week of August, if weather permits.