Spring weather delays planting for some farmers
SFC Extension Agent says crops looking good, growing well in area
Weather patterns in the Delta this spring have been problematic for farmers trying to get fields planted this year, according to St. Francis County Extension Agent Chase Tucker.
Tucker recently reported on the weather the county has experienced so far this year and its impact on farmers and crops.
Tucker said the rain has caused some issues in the county, but added that overall, it has been a good rainfall.
"The rain we’ve had here in the county and across the state has been very troublesome as far as planting in early spring," said Tucker. "The rain really put some hard delays on people to get dried out so that they could plant. Just as they got going again, it seemed another rain system would push across the state.
“According to the weather report from the Lon Mann Cotton Research Station in Lee County, May's rainfall for the month was 5.10 inches with average 70.4 degree temperatures. The current yearto-date rainfall is 27.31 inches. In St. Francis County, we have had a good rainfall."
Tucker said farmers have been able to save money on irrigation due to the weather patterns, although farmers are beginning to turn a lot of wells and pumps back on.
"We haven't seen detrimental rain or flooding in the county, unlike our companions to the south who have been dealing with the aftermath of a flood," said Tucker. "We have saved a little bit of money here on irrigation, but almost all of the moisture we did have has started to leave and the wells have been turned on."
According to Tucker, too much rain can cause sprouting in winter wheat crops that would harm the harvest.
"The winter wheat crops have been, for the most part, about an average Arkansas harvest," said Tucker. "Wheat really does not like too much rain when it begins to be ready for harvest as this can cause sprouting to happen. But for the most part, some fields have been above average on yields and some have been at the state average."
Tucker said the crops are looking good and growing well around the area, especially soybeans.
"Corn is looking good around St. Francis County," said Tucker. "It has taken off fast from our last rain shower and looks good. Rice is also looking good around the county. Row rice and conventional all look good.
“Cotton has been growing good. I haven’t found any squares yet in some of the fields I have been checking,” Tucker continued. “Milo has been coming up in some pretty good uniform stands in areas. Soybeans are looking great here in the county. Peanuts are coming up good across the county with our producers, and they are beginning to bloom."
According to Tucker, the county has been luckier than other parts of the state and that only a small amount of replanting has had to be done this year.
"The farming community is one of the strongest communities across our nation," said Tucker. "The weather is of vital importance to farming, but too much bad weather can end up hurting it. I believe here in our community, we have been luckier than other parts of the state. There has been a little replanting that has had to happen, but again we have been lucky on our amounts of rainfall and missing some pretty bad weather."