Arkansas

Moisture has been a key factor in the 2005 Arkansas soybean crop. Mother Nature has been capricious with the wet stuff, and farmers have either benefited or suffered as a result.

The state's farmers had planted about 2.95 million acres of soybeans by the end of June, said Dr. Chris Tingle, soybean specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. He said more was planted through the end of July, bringing the total to nearly 3 million acres.

Some early-planted soybean acreage is nearly ready for harvest while some of the crop has just been planted. "It's all over the board," Tingle said. "In some counties, farmers have started harvesting. We'll really get into the main harvest around the end of August."

The statewide average record yield for soybeans is 39.5 bushels per acre, set last year. It won't be that much this year.

"The majority of this crop is still young. The next two weeks could make or break us," Tingle predicted.

He said the lack of moisture has caused soybeans to struggle.

Farmers need a good crop because they've spent a lot of money on it, Tingle said. He blamed higher input costs on the high price of fuel and fertilizers. Farmers have told the specialist their input costs are 20 to 30 percent higher than last year.

Tingle said early-maturing varieties planted early in the season without irrigation in southeast Arkansas have matured, and "they're definitely good looking fields.

"I'm afraid this early crop will lead some people to think we're okay because they caught some timely rains in the southern part of the state. But as you move north, the fields tail off badly. We still have a lot of year left on most of these beans. And some rains and cooler temperatures would definitely be welcome."

The soybean crop in southwest Arkansas looked good early on with timely spring rains.

But a dry spell has caused the crop to nose dive. Tingle doesn't expect the crop to do well.

"There's a lot of dryland acreage in that part of the state, and moisture has been a key factor in the Arkansas crop this year. You have to supply it at the right time and in the right amount or you run into trouble. I'm afraid that's what we're facing in southwest Arkansas."

He said the Arkansas River Valley has responded well. They've gotten some recent rains. The crops are coming along well.

Tingle doesn't expect quality to be an issue in the soybean crop, mainly because of the drier weather. The lack of moisture has helped hold insects and diseases in check.

He said either could flare up quickly if Arkansas weather became cooler and more humid.

"When we start harvesting beans and corn and get a lot of field activity, we traditionally see an increase in stink bug numbers. If it stays dry like this, we'll see an increase in worms as well."

A pest that thankfully has not materialized in Arkansas is soybean rust, which became a concern late last year.

"It's not in Arkansas," said Tingle. "We're not recommending anyone treat for it. We're running 800 to 1,500 samples a week to look for it, and, thankfully, nothing has been found."

For more information about soybean production, visit Extension's Web site, uaex.edu, or contact your county Extension office. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.

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Date: 8/25/05