By Mary Hightower
Amid a few rounds of rain, Arkansas corn and rice planting are nearly complete in Arkansas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
“Corn and rice are right at the finish line,” said Scott Stiles, extension program associate for economics. “There will be big push on cotton this week.”
This week’s planting progress update from the National Agricultural Statistics Service shows that:
- Corn was 98 percent planted vs. the 91 percent five-year average.
- Rice was 93 percent planted vs. the 80 percent five-year average.
- Soybeans were 81 percent planted vs. the 59 percent five-year average.
- Cotton was 40 percent planted vs. the 35 percent five-year average.
- Winter wheat was 92 percent headed, slightly ahead of the five-year 82 percent average. Sixty-three percent of the winter wheat crop was in good or excellent condition, NASS said.
According to the NASS report, 37 percent of Arkansas pastures were in fair condition, with 31 percent in good condition; 23 percent were poor or very poor and 9 percent were excellent.
Much-needed rain
Arkansas needs the rain. The most intense form of drought — exceptional — expanded its hold to 17.54 percent of Arkansas according to the May 12 map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Source : uada.edu