Arkansas: Corn and Rice Planting Near Completion as Cotton Gets Underway
Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending April 22, 2012
General
On average, farmers had 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Topsoil moisture supplies were 2 percent very short, 10 percent short, 80 percent adequate and 8 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 1 percent very short, 9 percent short, 81 percent adequate and 9 percent surplus. Low temperatures ranged from 33 degrees Fahrenheit at Fayetteville to 50 degrees Fahrenheit at Eudora. Highs ranged from 75 degrees Fahrenheit at Calico Rock to 83 degrees Fahrenheit at Fort Smith. Most of the state received less than an inch of precipitation.
Crops
Producers had 97 percent of the corn crop planted, 13 percent ahead of last year and 19 percent ahead of the five-year average. Corn emergence was at 89 percent, 30 percent ahead of 2011 and 34 percent ahead of the five-year average. Producers had 9 percent of the cotton crop planted, 5 percent ahead of 2011 and 2 percent ahead of the five-year average. Cotton emergence was at 5 percent, 4 percent ahead of 2011 and the five-year average. Producers had 86 percent of the rice crop planted, 45 percent ahead of 2011 and 43 percent ahead of the 5-year average. Rice emergence was at 62 percent, 32 percent ahead of 2011 and 46 percent ahead of the five-year average.
Sorghum planting was at 89 percent, 38 percent ahead of 2011 and 44 percent ahead of the five-year average. Sorghum emergence was at 68 percent, 40 percent ahead of 2011 and 46 percent ahead of the five-year average. Producers had 28 percent of the soybean crop planted, 15 percent ahead of 2011 and 17 percent ahead of the five-year average. Soybean emergence was at 16 percent, 10 percent ahead of 2011 and 12 percent ahead of the five-year average.
The winter wheat crop was 100 percent headed, 32 percent ahead of last year and 49 percent ahead of the five-year average. Winter wheat was mostly fair to good condition. Producers continued to apply herbicides and insecticides. Armyworms continued to damage wheat and forages with some movement into other crops.
Livestock
Livestock were in good condition. Pasture and range condition was mostly fair to good.
Tags: crop progress, crop weather and condition, USDA reports
