The overall projected totals for Mississippi's crop values should top $7 billion for the third straight year, experts say, despite low prices for some goods.

John Michael Riley, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said his preliminary estimate of 2014 is over $7.7 billion. Final figures will be available in May.

"The row crops sector of the agricultural economy took a bit of hit, but there were pockets of that sector that saw improvements, such as cotton and rice," Riley said. "On the bright side, the livestock sector is doing well with all three segments — beef cattle, dairy cattle and hogs — showing double-digit improvements, percentage wise, from the previous year."

Poultry remained in first place with a $3.13 billion projected total value. At $2.88 billion, broilers showed a slight increase from 2013. Egg values were up nearly 10 percent, reflecting strong demand and price.

Forestry is the state's No. 2 commodity. It saw a 13.8 percent increase in value, driven by an improvement in housing starts. At $1.28 billion in 2014, the state's forest harvest value has increased 48 percent since 2009, when the effects of the recession first began to hit the industry.

James Henderson, an associate forestry professor with the MSU Extension Service, said he expects this positive trend to continue.

"Expectations are for a nearly 20 percent increase in total U.S. housing starts in 2015 as more first-time buyers enter the housing market," Henderson said.

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