Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds.
Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy.
Find tactics for healthy livestock and sound forages.
Scheduling and methods of irrigation.
Explore our Extension locations around the state.
Commercial row crop production in Arkansas.
Agriculture weed management resources.
Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches.
Learn to ID forages and more.
Explore our research locations around the state.
Get the latest research results from our county agents.
Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation.
Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster.
Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education.
Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.
Find educational resources and get youth engaged in agriculture.
Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills.
Timely tips for the Arkansas home gardener.
Creating beauty in and around the home.
Maintenance calendar, and best practices.
Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini.
What’s wrong with my plants? The clinic can help.
Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers.
Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions.
Enjoying the sweet fruits of your labor.
Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA.
Growing together from youth to maturity.
Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases.
Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information.
Grow a pollinator-friendly garden.
Schedule these timely events on your gardening calendar.
Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions.
Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures.
Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit.
Position your business to compete for government contracts.
Find trends, opportunities and impacts.
Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues.
Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved.
Research-based connection to government and policy issues.
Support Arkansas local food initiatives.
Read about our efforts.
Preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals.
Preserving water quality and quantity.
Cleaner air for healthier living.
Firewood & bioenergy resources.
Managing a complex forest ecosystem.
Read about nature across Arkansas and the U.S.
Learn to manage wildlife on your land.
Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas.
Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors.
Timely updates from our specialists.
Eating right and staying healthy.
Ensuring safe meals.
Take charge of your well-being.
Cooking with Arkansas foods.
Making the most of your money.
Making sound choices for families and ourselves.
Nurturing our future.
Get tips for food, fitness, finance, and more!
Understanding aging and its effects.
Giving back to the community.
Managing safely when disaster strikes.
Listen to our latest episode!
LITTLE ROCK — The number of Arkansas acres planted in rice, cotton, sorghum and soybean were all expected rise this in 2014, with declines seen for corn and winter wheat, according to the Prospective Plantings report issued by the National Agricultural Statistics Service on Monday.
The numbers:
“Today’s report confirms what we were gathering all winter at our county meetings” with Arkansas crop producers, said Scott Stiles, extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Unlike last year, the economic incentive to plant corn is much lower, making competing crops more attractive.
The 2014 corn acreage is projected at 600,000 acres, well below last year’s 880,000 and even further below 2013 if you consider how many corn acres would have been planted absent adverse planting conditions. Last March, Arkansas growers intended to plant 1 million acres of corn.
Higher prices saw corn become a rising star for Arkansas farmers, but the market has cooled, according to extension experts in corn and cotton.
“Overall, the corn figure is going to be down compared to last year,” said Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Grain prices have come down from 2013, so a drop in acres was expected" still acreage is estimated to be above our 10-year average.
Cotton up
Tom Barber, extension weed scientist and former cotton specialist, said lower prices for corn may be sending some acres back to cotton.
"The new crop prices are still around 80 cents,” Barber said. “I think the difference will be in the corn prices – what it is now versus what it was. A lot of these corn acres are going back to cotton.”
Barber said he expected the biggest increase in cotton acres to be south of I-40.
The majority of the cotton acres were in the north anyway, but it might be up just a tick in the north,” he said.
“Today’s report also indicated that 2014 cotton acreage would increase a modest 30,000 acres,” Stiles said. “At our county meetings we saw indications that our southern Arkansas producers intended to increase cotton acreage this year.
“The southern half of the state in particular had record cotton yields in 2013,” he said. “That may be a factor, but more importantly is the fact that cotton’s net return per acre is marginally improved versus corn as compared to last year.”
Peanuts
Arkansas’ estimated peanut crop was not included in this year’s report, though a slight decline was expected.
However, “peanut shellers are still shelling 2012 peanuts so, there are an excess of peanuts in storage,” said Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist who works closely with the state’s peanut growers. “Given the high supply, demand is low and so are the contract prices … Arkansas peanut producers will scale back on the acres they plant.”
Faske expected acreage to hover around 10,000 acres for the 2015 growing season.
Sorghum
Kelley, who also works with the state's grain sorghum growers said, “The rise of grain sorghum was due to several factors including good prices, increased ability to control glyphosate-tolerant pigweeds with grain sorghum and more marketing opportunities."
Soybean acreage rises
The numbers are no surprise for Jeremy Ross, extension soybean specialist.
“From discussion with many growers during the winter meeting season, many indicated that they would increase soybean and rice acreage, and decrease corn acreage,” Ross said. “ In 2013, Arkansas soybean producers planted 3.26 million acres. My guess for 2014 is planted acreage will be between 3.3 and 3.4 million acres.
“However, this is all depending on the weather conditions in the next our weeks. If we see a wet weather pattern, and corn planting is delayed, we may see a few more soybean acres. From talks with many of the seed companies, soybean seed supply is tight on some of the more popular varieties, but we should have enough seed to plant this year's soybean crop.
Rice
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the USDA estimates are “right in line with university expectations.”
Hardke said medium grain acreage was going to be a fluid situation this spring and would be determined by seed supply. Weather would also be a determining factor in shifting acres, he said.
“Rice acreage came in on the high end of expectations today,” Stiles said. “ Our budgets have favored rice all winter and the growers confirmed that.”
Weather vs. prices
“NASS conducted its survey for today’s report during the first two weeks of March and it reflects grower’s intentions at that time,” Stiles said. “I think commodity prices will have a very limited impact from here forward on what growers plant. Weather will now have the most influence.
“The month of March did not provide for a rapid start to 2014 planting,” he said. ”April will have to be a lot more cooperative for growers to reach their corn and rice planting intentions and not alter today’s outlook.”
Last year, farmers saw record yields in most major crops.
For more information about crop production, visit our newly revamped web site, www.uaex.uada.edu or contact your county extension office.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
# # #
By Mary HightowerThe Cooperative Extension ServiceU of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Mary HightowerDir. of Communication ServicesU of A Division of AgricultureCooperative Extension Service(501) 671-2126mhightower@uada.edu
Related Links