Arkansas harvest: pockets of optimism
Oct 23, 2009 2:37 PM, By Mary Hightower, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Arkansas cotton, rice and soybean growers work to harvest in brief breaks in rains. Fall wheat planting is delayed as well.
Near constant rain has caused between 25 percent and 80 percent damage in some Arkansas cotton, rice and soybean fields as growers struggle to harvest what’s left during brief periods of dry weather, according Extension agents, agronomist and economists with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
In Phillips County, there was some good news for cotton farmers.
“For sure, there is no total loss,” Robert Goodson, Phillips County Extension agent, said Thursday. “While we won’t meet the crop average for Phillips County, it won’t be as bad as everyone thought at first.”
However, some soybeans in his county were fungus-fraught, rotting or splitting.
“There are a lot of fields that have above 25 percent damage due to the wet weather. I have heard horror stories of damage in the 80 percent range.”
While this year’s yield won’t hit 2008’s 50-bushel-an-acre mark, “I think we’ll be in the low 40-bushel range,” Goodson said. “The saving grace for the soybean crop is the price. It is still strong.
“Cash price at Marvell, Ark., is $10.05, which makes lower yields look better.”
Scott Stiles, Extension economist-risk management, said the moisture was chipping away at the strong prices.
“Moisture discounts, foreign material, mold in the samples — all these discounts add up to dollars,” said Stiles, adding that despite the strong prices, “the discounts are getting pretty deep on soybeans.”
Cotton growers were in the same boat.
“Yesterday, December cotton futures closed at 68.38 cents,” said Stiles. “This helps, but it is a small consolation when you can’t harvest the crop you have.”
In Prairie County, Ark., Brent Griffin, Extension staff chair, grimly tallied the damages in a report for the county judge. Griffin estimates rice, soybean and cotton losses in his county alone to be just under $10.5 million. Soybeans were the hardest hit, at slightly over $6 million.
“The longer it rains, the uglier it gets,” he said, adding there will be consequences for next year. “Seed quality for soybeans for planting next year’s crop could get tight. There’s simply no good seed.”
Randy Chlapecka, Jackson County, Ark., Extension staff chair, said river and stream flooding “has completely ruined some soybeans.
“In regards to rice, we still have about 30 percent of our rice still in the field, which is unheard of for this time of the year. There is great concern about how much the late planting plus the wet, cool late summer and fall has impacted yields and milling of the remaining crop.”
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