Arkansas agriculture is moving through the final stages of spring planting with soybeans nearly finished statewide, cotton still working through weather delays, and rice and corn already complete, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Soybean planting leads completion across major crops, with 95 percent of fields in the ground. That pace is ahead of last year’s 83 percent and above the five-year average of 85 percent. Rice and corn planting are fully complete statewide. The Prospective Plantings report estimated soybean acreage at 3.1 million acres, an increase of about 510,000 acres, or 20 percent, from the previous year. Some of that shift has been linked to rising production costs, including fuel and fertilizer inputs, influencing planting decisions in parts of the state. With additional rainfall in the forecast, extension specialists expect remaining soybean planting to finish within about seven to 10 days once fields dry.
Cotton remains behind in comparison, with 88 percent of the crop planted statewide. That is ahead of last year’s 83 percent but still below the five-year average of 91 percent. Wet conditions are contributing to slower progress as the planting window narrows, even as elevated market prices continue to influence late-season activity.
Earlier projections from the Prospective Plantings report estimated Arkansas cotton acreage at about 470,000 acres, down roughly 50,000 acres, or 10 percent, from last year. If realized, that would represent the smallest cotton acreage in the state since 2017.
Market conditions shifted during the spring, with cotton futures rising above 80 cents per pound and reaching two-year highs after being below 70 cents during the March planting survey period. That price movement has supported continued planting activity later into the season in some areas.
Extension agronomists note that newer cotton varieties are better suited for late planting than earlier generations, allowing more flexibility when weather delays occur. Even so, remaining cotton planting is expected to be limited as the season winds down.
