Donald Schexnayder is feeling the negative effects of recent dry weather and awaits the coming harvest to know exactly how much of his crops he has lost.”We know we have a yield loss in corn and soybeans, but don’t know how much,” the West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parish farmer said. “It may only be 5 percent, or it may be as high as 35 to 50 percent.”Mike Strain, commissioner of agriculture and forestry, said planting and production has decreased in almost all crops statewide, with cotton and rice totaling a combined 110,000 less acres in production than 2008.Strain said he predicts the cotton harvest to be between 210,000 and 230,000 acres — the lowest harvest in a century.The cotton industry has scaled back production since last year because of high input costs — such as fertilizer — and are looking to alternative crops, such as soy beans and corn, which have lower input costs, he said.Strain said farmers battle a number of factors each year, such as droughts and hurricanes. This year, farmers have dealt with significant droughts and hailstorms, damaging nearly 60,000 acres of cotton, he said.In addition to storms, Strain said farmers lose an average of 24,000 acres per year to urban encroachment.Schexnayder said his company lost 330 acres of corn and 200 acres of wheat from a hailstorm last year, but have not suffered damage from major storms this year.In Louisiana, cotton production decreased from 300,000 acres in 2008 to 240,000 acres in 2009. Rice lost a total of 50,000 acres between 2008 and 2009, while corn has increased from 520,000 acres to 700,000 acres. Sugarcane harvest has dropped from 405,000 acres in 2008 to 400,000 acres in 2009. Soybean production remained flat, with 1,050,000 acres in production both years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Lawrence Johnson, agriculture professor, said Louisiana has been reducing cotton acreage each year for the past few years.”Historically, cotton has been a pretty good enterprise,” he said. “Most of the cotton went to domestic mills and a small portion was exported. However, foreign competition has closed many domestic mills, and most of the cotton is now exported.”Strain said the decrease in cotton will have an adverse effect on the state economy.”I would say the total overall impact of a 130,000 acre loss is about a $70 million direct impact on our economy,” he said.Strain said farmers are taking a hit from the decreased production. Some farmers will have to dip into savings or find other means of income, he said.Johnson said many farmers are turning to other enterprises, such as soybeans and corn. However, as cotton gins and warehouses close and deteriorate, it causes financial problems for farmers and investors, he said.”The switch to exporting is good for consumers because of the lower prices on clothes, but bad for farmers,” he said. “Some farmers still have investments in machinery, which puts them in a bad financial situation.”Schexnayder said crop loss takes a toll on surrounding economies as well.”It has a huge impact on rural communities,” he said. “All the money lost from the community because of a smaller harvest really takes a toll.”Strain said there are many factors affecting the decrease in production, one of which is a result of the economic recession.”Overall, the lower availability of capital and lower commodities have contributed to the loss of harvest,” he said. “Also, the storms have had a major negative impact this year.”      —-Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]