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Corn, rice harvests near completion in Arkansas

Corn and rice harvests are nearing completion, while soybean and cotton harvests hit their stride.

Northeast Arkansas farmer Derek Haigwood says harvest has been incredibly smooth this fall.  “I’ve not seen it go this long during the harvest without a big, you know, 1-to-2-inch rain,” he says. “We’ve got 50 acres of rice left. We’ll finish corn today. I could finish beans in three days, and I’ll finish cotton in probably 8 days of picking.”

Statewide, corn harvest is 98% complete.  Rice is 94% harvested. Cotton is 55% harvested with 74% rated good to excellent.  Soybeans are 82% harvested, with 87% mature.  Peanuts are 87% dug, 39% harvested, and 86% rated good to excellent.

As for yields, he tells Brownfield, it’s been variable.  “The corn is better than normal,” he says. “The soybeans that we planted early April, end of March, those were our highest yielding beans. Cotton is really looking good. I’m picking cotton right now and the yields are outstanding.”

Winter wheat planting is 28% planted with 10% emerged. 

Alfalfa hay is rated 50% good to excellent, and pastures are rated 28% good to excellent. 

Topsoil moisture is 44% adequate and 3% surplus and subsoil moisture is 36% adequate and 6% surplus. 

Photo courtesy of Arkansas farmer Derek Haigwood