Dec. 18, 2020
YEAREND: Amid difficult weather and an ongoing pandemic, most Arkansas crops fare surprisingly well in 2020
By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Heavy spring rains, delayed planting and other factors affected overall production
- Arkansas cotton has record yield, far surpasses U.S. average
- Fuel prices likely to rise in 2021
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LITTLE ROCK — 2020 has been an extraordinary year, by almost any measure. And although the past 12 months have been filled with many challenges and setbacks, some sectors of the economy — including many Arkansas row crops — saw better outcomes than anyone could have predicted.
Across the state, Arkansas residents experienced more than double the average annual rainfall throughout the first third of 2020, with the Delta region seeing more than 11 inches of rainfall in March alone.
In March, the COVID-19 pandemic began sweeping through the United States, erupting first on the coasts, then slowly working its way toward the central part of the country. As businesses both in and out of the agricultural sector began shutting their doors, the federal government instituted travel restrictions that affected the availability of H2-A guest workers and other aspects of the available labor pool.
In April, the corn, rice and cotton crops saw some of the slowest planting progress in recent history, as continuing rains, paired with relatively cool spring temperatures, prevented fields from drying quickly when the rare clear window did arise.
There were tropical storms. There was delayed planting, there was slow growth, there was the harvest that practically came for dinner at midnight.
And yet, somehow, many of the state’s growers emerged as well as, and in some cases, better off than, any other year in the past decade.
Scott Stiles, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said many of the state’s agricultural outcomes for 2020, all things considered, were remarkable.
“Considering the planting and harvesting weather challenges, yields for all crops are expected to be good,” Stiles said. “For instance, NASS currently projects the state’s cotton yield to be a record 1,200 pounds per acre.”
That marked an increase of about 15 pounds per acre, and handily outshone the national average this year of 893 pounds per acre. NASS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Arkansas peanuts, which saw a reduction of about 5.6 percent in average yield, falling to about 4,900 pounds per acre, nevertheless saw a substantial increase in overall production, from about 171.6 million pounds to about 191.1 million pounds.
Arkansas rice, with a final planted acreage of about 1.44 million acres, saw mild increases in yields, rising to about 7,500 pounds per acre, about 20 pounds higher than 2019’s average yield. Soybeans, the state’s No. 1 crop, also saw a slight increase in yield, advancing from 49 bushels per acre in 2019 to 50 bushels per acre as of Nov. 1.
Arkansas corn, which saw a significant drop in harvested acreage, from about 735,000 acres in 2019 to about 605,000 acres in 2020, nevertheless saw an increased yield per acre, rising from 175 bushels per acre last year to 181 bushels per acre as of Nov. 1.
A glimmer of hope
As we march headlong toward 2021, Stiles said the availability of effective COVID-19 vaccines may reignite portions of the global economic engine that have slowed to a crawl.
“A glimmer of hope on the vaccine front has been supportive to energy prices,” Stiles said. He said economists expect West Texas Intermediate crude oil process to average about $7 a barrel higher in 2021, triggering higher fuel prices across the board.
Grain markets have already seen rising prices.
“A tremendous price rally in corn and soybeans has been underway since mid-August,” Stiles said. “Historically, sharp rallies of this magnitude in grains tend to pull fertilizer prices higher. A higher price trend is already underway in the macronutrients.”
Supplies of corn and soybeans in the United States and the world have shrunk significantly over the last few months, Stiles said, causing prices for both commodities to rise.
“Wheat prices have been attractive as well this fall, offering growers opportunities to forward price at $6 or better,” he said. “We expect wheat acres to be up some. We could see a reduction in cotton acres in 2021 if cotton prices remain at or below current levels, near 70 cents. By comparison, corn and soybean returns are slightly better than cotton at today’s price relationships.
“There are enough global weather concerns today that could lift corn and soybeans price further over the next few months,” he said.
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Ryan McGeeney
Communications Services
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
rmcgeeney@uada.edu