Record temperatures continue to affect rice quality and milling yields across Arkansas
Arkansas rice growers are dealing with another difficult harvest season as unusually hot and dry weather continues to impact crop quality and milling yields. Agricultural experts say 2026 marks the fourth consecutive year that harvest conditions have created challenges for rice producers across the state.
Arkansas is the leading rice-producing state in the United States, accounting for roughly 45% to 49% of the nation's rice production. The state is best known for its long-grain and medium-grain rice varieties grown throughout eastern Arkansas. Because of its importance to national rice supplies, changes in Arkansas production can have significant effects on the broader industry.
According to University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture rice specialist Jarrod Hardke, prolonged periods of heat during harvest have caused rice to dry more rapidly in the field than normal. When rice becomes overly dry before harvest, kernels are more likely to crack and break during milling. This lowers milling yields and can result in financial losses for growers.
Rice quality concerns have been building over several years. While 2022 and 2023 produced acceptable results, conditions worsened significantly in 2024. An early planting season led to an unusually early harvest, and many fields dried down quickly before producers could complete harvest operations. Hurricane-related weather systems later damaged a portion of the crop that remained in the field, contributing to some of the lowest milling yields seen in recent years.
Conditions improved somewhat in 2025, but warm temperatures during September continued to limit grain quality. In 2026, record-breaking heat returned and persisted through much of the harvest season. Daytime temperatures frequently exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit while warm nighttime temperatures prevented crops from recovering from heat stress.
Agronomists note that Arkansas has experienced similar temperatures before. However, modern farming practices and changing harvest schedules have created a different situation for today's rice crop. In recent years, producers have planted earlier and harvested sooner than previous generations. As a result, mature rice now spends more time exposed to late-summer heat.
Experts compared current conditions to those experienced in 1980, one of the hottest years in Arkansas history. While overall temperatures appear similar, today's rice crop typically reaches maturity earlier, increasing its exposure to extreme heat during harvest. This shift has made weather-related quality losses more common.
The repeated occurrence of hot harvest conditions has raised questions about whether Arkansas rice production is entering a new climate pattern. Four consecutive years of challenging harvest weather have encouraged researchers and growers to reconsider long-standing production practices.
One possible solution involves adjusting planting dates. Research conducted in Arkansas suggests that planting rice slightly later may help crops avoid the most intense harvest-season heat. Historically, growers often achieved the highest yields from late-March planting dates. More recent data, however, indicates that early-April to mid-April planting can produce similar or even better results in some locations.
Field trials in northeast Arkansas have shown strong yields from mid-April planting dates. Researchers believe spreading planting activity across a wider window could help reduce the risk of harvest losses caused by extreme temperatures.
Despite these findings, planting later is not always easy. Spring weather conditions often limit opportunities for fieldwork, and growers must take advantage of favorable planting windows whenever they occur. Economic factors can also influence planting decisions.
“Ideally, we need to go back to a way to spread planting dates out and lean towards later planting,” said Hardke. “But with how tough our spring weather has been, if you don’t take advantage of a planting widow, you don’t know when you’ll be able to plant again.”
Agricultural specialists continue to recommend diversified planting schedules and careful harvest planning. While researchers evaluate new practices, growers remain hopeful for cooler harvest conditions in future seasons.
With Arkansas responsible for nearly half of U.S. rice production, improving crop resilience will remain an important priority for producers and researchers alike as they adapt to changing weather patterns.
Photo Credit: University of Arkansas