Crop Overview

For thirty years, Silent Shade has consistently grown a diversified crop of cotton, corn, soybeans and rice. Crop diversity for us is a part of our risk management strategy. The number of acres dedicated to each crop changes yearly depending on the market, soil types and crop rotation.

Cotton

  • Our cotton is planted on our sandiest ground in a rotation with our corn crop.
  • Plant date: Late April—Early May
  • We plant our cotton in a skip row pattern.
  • Our cotton goes through five main growth stages: germination, seedling establishment, canopy development, flower and boll development, and maturation.
  • Plant growth regulators and defoliation products are applied by variable rate with the use of aerial imagery.
  • Harvest date: Late September—October
  • Staplctn markets our cotton crop, and most goes to the international market.

Soybeans

  • Of our four crops, soybeans tend to be the most low cost/low risk. The plant is more resilient when faced with weed or bug pressures.
  • Plant date: Early April
  • Soybeans are planted on heavy, clay soil in a rotation with our rice crop. Typically we aim to plant 2 years of soybeans followed by 1 year of rice. This crop rotation increases our sustainability by maintaining soil fertility.
  • Harvest date: September
  • Our soybeans are mainly exported to the international market.
  • Soybeans are used in the production of so many things including food, feed, rubber, plastic, paint and oil.

Corn

  • Planting Window: March 15-April 10
  • Our corn seed is planted at a variable rate based on soil fertility
  • Our corn is irrigated using row water with surge valve technology
  • We apply Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen at a variably rate based on soil samples.
  • Our corn is scouted weekly for disease, bugs and weeds. Crop protection is applied as needed to promote plant health.
  • Harvest start date: Mid-August
  • Our harvested corn stays locally in the state. The end user is the chicken feed mills in South Mississippi.

Rice

  • Our rice ground is precision landformed prior to planting.
  • Plant date: late March
  • Our rice grows on heavy, clay soil in a rotation with our soybean crop, using these four Best Management Practices: (BMP) straight levee, side inlet, alternate wetting and drying, row rice.
  • Our rice is flooded to prevent weed growth and reduce our need for herbicides.
  • Harvest date: August—September
  • The final product is a long-grain white rice.
  • Our harvested rice is sent to Producers Rice Mill, a local co-op.
  • From Producers, it goes directly to our regional grocery stores or is exported to the international market.
  • Our rice can be packaged by Producers as brown or white rice, and end consumers can use it for entrees, side dishes, soups, fried rice and much more.

Silent Shade Planting Company

  • Meet Us

    422 Silver City Road
    Belzoni, MS 39038

  • Write Us

    PO Box 534
    Belzoni, MS 39038

  • Call Us

    PH: 662-247-1214
    FAX: 662-399-1400

  • Email Us

    info@silent-shade.com