Northeast Arkansas farmer Derek Haigwood says he had a pretty decent start to this year’s planting season. “My family, all in all, probably had about 750 acres of rice planted and probably 900 acres of corn planted,” he says.
According to the latest Crop Report from the USDA 15 percent of the state’s rice crop has been planted, a 7 percent jump from last week and 3 percent ahead of the 5-year average. Two percent of the crop has emerged. Corn is 31 percent planted with 21 percent emerged. Soybeans are 11 percent planted, with 1 percent of the crop emerged.
Fourteen percent of the state’s winter wheat crop has headed a 3 percent increase from lats year and slightly behind the 5-year average. Fifty-three percent of the crop is rated good to excellent.
And then last week’s storm system moved in and caused catastrophic flooding. “Everything we have planted is underwater,” he says. “Not all of our ground is under, but 75% of our farm is completely underwater. Some places are underwater 12 feet deep.”
Topsoil and subsoil moisture are called 94 percent adequate to surplus. Pastures and hay are both rated 28 percent good to excellent.
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