Arkansas row and subject crops endured a 100-year flood and epic insect numbers however nonetheless ended the yr with report cotton and rice yields and better crop costs.
In June, southeastern Arkansas skilled extraordinary flooding, which affected greater than 250,000 acres of crops. The Rohwer Analysis Station in Desha County recorded 19.22 inches of rain over a 48-hour interval. It was the second-highest rain whole ever recorded in Arkansas throughout a 48-hour interval, in line with the Nationwide Climate Service. The deluge got here throughout a
week of persistent storms that prompted flood and twister warnings throughout Arkansas. The one 48-hour rain whole forward of Rohwer’s is the 21.45 inches of rain that fell in Danville over two days ending Dec. 4, 1982.
Harm was estimated round $206 million {dollars}. Financial impacts from the occasion have been estimated at roughly $60 million for corn, $6 million for cotton, $68 million for rice, $71 million for soybeans, and $1 million for wheat. The injury estimates have been based mostly on floor references by native county extension brokers. Satellite tv for pc imagery and USDA crop information overlays have been used to determine the acres affected by heavy flooding.
In July, entomologists with the Division of Agriculture requested an emergency-use exemption from the federal Environmental Safety Company for Intrepid in Arkansas’ rice crop to manage what Extension Entomologist Gus Lorenz referred to as “epic” numbers of armyworms. The exemption was granted.
Just a few weeks later, the identical entomologists could be looking for one other emergency use exemption for Endigo ZC to struggle stink bugs in rice. EPA granted that one too. In contrast to the earlier yr when the remnants of Hurricane Laura ravaged components of Arkansas, Ida’s remnants pushed north from Louisiana, however sheared eastward, sparing Arkansas’s crops as harvest was getting began.
The Dec. 10 twister that killed two individuals in Arkansas additionally brought about injury to agriculture pursuits in northeast Arkansas, together with the cotton gin at Leachville. The storm cell would proceed on for an additional 200 miles, killing dozens in Kentucky. The prices of the injury have been nonetheless being assessed at this writing.
Regardless of the challenges, the rising season noticed a powerful end, with report, or near-record common yields, and within the case of cotton, a report excessive worth.
“The September replace from USDA was the primary indication the 2021 crop had robust yield potential, regardless of all of the climate occasions,” stated Scott Stiles, extension economist for the College of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We noticed yield estimates for corn, soybeans and cotton tick greater because the Nationwide Agricultural Statistics Service accomplished its first spherical of goal crop yield surveys.”
Corn; Though down 1 bushel per acre from 2020, the 183-bushels-per-acre Arkansas common in 2021 was greater than this yr’s U.S. report excessive common corn yield of 177 bushels per acre. The state common report corn yield was 187 bushels per acre in 2014.
Stiles stated, “Arkansas planted 850,000 acres of corn, a 37 p.c improve over 2020 and the second highest variety of acres of corn planted since 1954. USDA tasks the U.S. common farm worth to be the best since 2012 at $5.45 per bushel, up from final yr’s common of $4.53.”
Cotton: As of Dec. 1, Arkansas cotton manufacturing was forecast at 1.26 million bales, up 60,000 bales from the Nov. 1 forecast however 17,000 bales under from final yr. “Yield is anticipated to common a report 1,287 kilos per harvested acre, up 61 kilos from final month and up 108 kilos from 2020,” Stiles stated. “Harvested acreage is estimated at 470,000 acres, down 50,000 acres from 2020.”
Arkansas adopted the U.S. development this yr with extra corn and soybeans being planted.
“At planting, the worth outlook for grains was extra favorable,” he stated. “Nevertheless, cotton costs continued to rise over the course of 2021. The U.S. 2021-22 season-average worth estimate for upland cotton is projected to be a report 90 cents per pound—up from final yr’s 66.30 cents.” Peanuts: Peanut manufacturing in 2021 is forecast at 175 million kilos, down 4 p.c from final yr on decrease acreage. Based mostly on circumstances as of Nov. 1, yield is anticipated to common 5,000 kilos per acre, up 200 kilos from final yr.
“Arkansas’ harvested acreage is projected at 35,000, down 3,000 acres from 2020,” Stiles stated. Nevertheless, “U.S. peanut costs have adopted different oilseeds like soybeans and canola greater this yr. Common producer costs are projected to be about $40 per ton greater this yr with an common worth of $460 per ton.”
Rice: All rice manufacturing for the state is forecast at 91 million hundredweight, down 16 p.c from final yr’s manufacturing of 108 million hundredweight. Based mostly on circumstances as of Nov. 1, the “all rice” yield for 2021 is forecast at a report 7,600 kilos per acre, up 100 kilos from final yr. Producers anticipate to reap 1.20 million acres of rice, down 243,000 acres from 2020. Stiles stated common producer costs for the 2021 crop are projected to be $13.10 per hundredweight or $5.90 per bushel for lengthy grain and $13.70 per hundredweight, or $6.17 per bushel, for southern medium grain.
“Grower costs for each lessons are anticipated to be about 4 to 4.5 p.c above final yr,” he stated.
Sorghum: Robust demand from China has helped sorghum in Arkansas.
“NASS doesn’t monitor sorghum acreage for Arkansas,” Stiles stated. “Nevertheless, we will incorporate data from the FSA licensed acreage information to comply with traits. From that we see growers planted about 89,000 acres this yr, up from 14,748 final yr.
“Growers had traditionally excessive pricing alternatives this yr. In Might, Mississippi River bids for sorghum reached $7.45 per bushel with foundation affords a $1.05 over futures,” he stated. “Our growers have been effectively positioned to take part within the robust export demand from China.” Soybeans: Soybean growers had a motive to rejoice on the season’s finish as costs climbed. Soybean manufacturing in 2021 is forecast at 151 million bushels, up 4 p.c from final yr. “Based mostly on circumstances as of Nov. 1, yield is anticipated to common 50 bushels per acre, 1.5 bushels shy of final yr’s report yield,” Stiles stated. “Harvested acres are anticipated to be 3.01 million acres, up 210,000 acres from 2020.
“USDA at present forecasts the U.S. 2021 season common worth at $12.10 per bushel, up $1.30 from final yr’s $10.80 and the best season common worth since 2013,” he stated.
