Arkansas Corn Planting Nears Completion Despite Challenges
Little Rock, AR – As the planting season draws to a close, nearly all of Arkansas’s projected 710,000 corn acres are now in the ground, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reporting 98% completion. This is a significant advance compared to the national average of 87%, although adverse weather conditions have posed challenges for many farmers.
May brought relentless rains, which compressed the planting window and affected the crop’s viability. Farmers faced the difficult decision of replanting approximately 53,000 of the 265,000 acres initially planted by the end of March due to earlier flooding. Jason Kelley, an agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, noted, "It’s been a challenging year. A lot of that corn planted in March ended up being replanted."
The weather has not been favorable, with USDA reporting only 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork between May 18 and 25. During this period, 54% of farm topsoil was in moisture surplus, further complicating farming efforts.
Kelley highlighted that farmers who could not replant by late May would likely abandon their corn crops due to diminishing yields associated with any further delays. "Our planting date studies have shown that after about May 1, yields generally start dropping off," he stated. As the costs associated with farming remain high, many growers find it increasingly unprofitable to continue with late plantings.
As farmers navigate these hurdles, the impact of surging fertilizer prices adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult season for Arkansas agriculture.
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