The Arkansas Acreage Report issued June 29 shows that Arkansas Rice acreage planted is up 5 percent from 2011, cotton is down 15 percent and soybean is down 2 percent.
The area planted for corn for all purposes is estimated at 660,000 acres, up 18 percent from the 2011 corn acreage. Farmers intend to harvest 640,000 acres for grain in the fall.
The area planted to cotton is estimated at 580,000 acres, down 15 percent from the 2011 acreage. Farmers have planted an estimated 99 percent of the acreage to genetically modified varieties.
All hay expected to be cut is forecast at 1.45 million acres, up 4 percent from 2011. Alfalfa hay for harvest is forecast at 10,000 acres, unchanged from 2011, while all other hay for harvest is forecast at 1.44 million acres, up 4 percent from 2011.
The area planted to oats for all purposes is estimated at 10,000 acres, down 5,000 acres from 2011. Farmers intend to harvest 8,000 acres for grain this summer.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
All rice plantings are estimated at 1.25 million acres, up 5 percent from 2011. Breakdowns by grain length are: long grain planted area is up 21 percent from 2011 at 1,140,000 acres, medium grain planted area is down 57 percent to 110,000 acres, and short grain planted area is 1,000 acres, equal to 2011.
Sorghum plantings are estimated at 120,000 acres, up 20 percent from the 100,000 acres planted a year ago. Arkansas growers intend to harvest 110,000 acres of sorghum for grain this year.
The area planted to soybeans is estimated at 3.25 million, down 2 percent from the previous year. Farmers have planted an estimated 94 percent of the acreage to herbicide resistant varieties. Planted area to sweet potatoes purposes is estimated at 3,000 acres, down 600 acres from 2011. Farmers expect to harvest 2,900 acres this fall.
The area planted to winter wheat is estimated at 540,000 acres, down 13 percent 2011 acreage. Wheat acres intended to be harvested for grain this year are estimated at 460,000, down 12 percent from the 2011 harvest.