Expectations for a heavy rain event Tuesday and Wednesday of this week will delay the remainder of rice and cotton planting into the crop insurance late planting period. Forecasts as of Monday (5/23/22) call for three to four inches of rain from central into southwest Arkansas.
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 74% of cotton and 90% of rice acres had been planted through May 22nd. This compares to the 5-year average of 75% for cotton and 88% for rice.
As determined by the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA), the final and late planting dates, can vary by crop and in some instances by county. The table below identifies the final planting date and the end of the late planting period for rice and cotton in Arkansas.
For rice, the final planting date of May 25th applies to all counties. For cotton, counties north of U.S. Interstate 40 (I-40) have a final planting date of May 20th. Counties south of I-40 have a final planting date of May 25th.
Crop Insurance Final Planting Dates for Rice, Arkansas
| Counties | Earliest Plant Date | Final Plant Date | Late Plant Period Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| All counties in Arkansas | April 1 | May 25 | June 9 |
Source: USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)
Crop Insurance Final Planting Dates for Cotton, Arkansas
| Counties | Final Plant Date | Late Plant Period Ends |
|---|---|---|
| All counties in Arkansas, except those listed below | May 25 | June 9 |
| Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, St. Francis, Woodruff | May 20 | June 4 |
Source: USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)
As a reminder, insurance coverage during the late planting period is reduced by 1% each day after the final planting date, through the end of the late planting period.
If planting by these deadlines is not possible, it is important to maintain proper records to document the cause. If it appears that it will not be possible to finish planting by the final planting date or during the late planting period, farmers should contact their crop insurance agent to discuss their options.
