By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Ryan 501-671-2120
March 9, 2018
Early planting surges ahead, even as rain makes for slow work in some parts of state
Fast Facts:
- Corn, rice growers move ahead of 5-year average
- Even where rains were absent last week, saturated soils often remained
(419 words)
LITTLE ROCK — Even as the rains of late winter and early spring still kept field work at a standstill through some parts of Arkansas, corn and rice growers around the state managed to make headway, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
By March 25, 18 percent of estimated 2018 corn acreage had been planted — double the 5-year average for this point in the season. Rice growers had seeded 4 percent of acreage, twice what was completed by this time last year, and four times the 5-year average.
Robert Goodson, agriculture agent for the Phillips County Cooperative Extension Service office, said that while some growers stayed out of the fields, suspecting excessive rain on the way, growers collectively planted more than 3,000 acres of corn and 1,000 acres of rice throughout the county.
Goodson said that most growers in his county have finished their pre-emergence pesticide applications, using either aerial or ground rigs.
“There’s still some prep to do, but we’re in good shape. If we can have four or five days of dry weather and a little breeze, we’ll be back on schedule,” Goodson said.
In Cross County, rains not only stalled field preparations over the past several weeks, but may have occurred additional costs, Cross County extension agent Rick Wimberley said.
“We were seeing a lot of tractors go in the field last week, doing some tillage work,” Wimberley said. “But now, because of the rains, they’re going to have to go back in there and scratch the field up again. You’re adding $12-15 an acre to your production cost right there, in fuel and labor.”
Remaining ahead of the planting calendar, however, has kept growers in a reasonable mood, he said.
“With rice and beans, we’re nowhere near being behind the optimal planting date — we’re still in good shape there,” Wimberley said. “Nobody is really surly yet, but if this keeps up, they’re going to get that way.”
Progress in much of Perry County, however, remained stalled as rains kept soil saturated, nearly to the point of flooding in some areas. Kevin Lawson, Perry County agricultural agent, said that while pasture managers were finally able to apply pre-emergent pesticides, row crop farmers were in a holding pattern.
“But nobody’s gone to ‘plan B’ yet,” Lawson said, as far as planting intensions. “It’s too early for that, in our neck of the woods. Everyone’s still on track.”
To learn about Arkansas row crops, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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