Arkansas farmers have made significant progress in planting corn and rice, but ongoing drought conditions remain a concern, according to a May 14 update from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
The latest report matters because while recent rainfall has helped crops and improved soil moisture, large parts of Arkansas still face severe drought. Farmers are racing to complete planting and manage weather-related challenges that affect yields and production schedules.
Scott Stiles, extension program associate for economics, said, “Corn and rice are right at the finish line. There will be big push on cotton this week.” According to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, corn is 98 percent planted compared to a five-year average of 91 percent; rice is at 93 percent versus an average of 80 percent; soybeans are at 81 percent compared with an average of 59 percent; cotton stands at 40 percent against a five-year average of 35 percent. Winter wheat was reported as being ahead in development with most fields in good or excellent condition.
Despite these gains, exceptional drought now covers over seventeen percent of Arkansas. The National Centers for Environmental Information reports that northeast Arkansas needs nearly twenty inches of rain to end its drought while northwest Arkansas requires about twelve inches. County extension agents noted that although rainfall has been beneficial for row crops such as corn and soybeans, it delayed hay cutting operations due to wet fields.
Jerri Dew, extension staff chair in Lafayette County, said, “The rain has been a welcome relief.” She added that repeated rains have slowed some planting efforts: “We have been trying to get our cotton variety trial in, and we keep having rains come through.” Jenna Martin from Cross County explained how heavy rainfall helped with moisture but also led to replanting needs: “It was helpful but it was just a lot at once that we needed stretched out this past winter and into spring.”
Kevin Lawson from Faulkner County said the timing worked well for fertilizing corn and activating herbicides on rice: “It incorporated the fertilizer and activated the herbicide.” However he noted delays for soybean planting due to wet ground. Grant Beckwith from Arkansas County echoed these sentiments: “The rains have really helped. We have been able to get herbicides and fertilizer incorporated … It was really good timing on a lot of our soybean ground.”
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service receives funding through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as state appropriations; it delivers programs via county offices across all seventy-five counties in Arkansas using research centers statewide according to the official website.
Looking forward, officials say continued precipitation will be necessary for recovery from persistent drought conditions impacting agriculture throughout much of Arkansas.
