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Arkansas farmer says crop conditions and yields likely will vary

From too much rain to not enough, weather has been a challenge for many farmers in parts of the Delta this year. Ryan Johnson, who farms in southeast Arkansas, says after a hot and dry spell this summer they’ve had six inches of rain this week.“I don’t know that it’s a real positive effect,” he says.  “We’re at the point where we’re harvesting corn.  Cotton, soybean, and rice harvest is close.  It’s not the time of year you want a bunch of rain.”

He tells Brownfield corn harvest is underway in his area, and his expectations for yields?  “I’d say they’re going to be very average this year,” he says.  “It’s not the worst crop we’ve ever had, but it’s certainly not the best.”

Harvest is just around the corner for soybeans, cotton, and rice.  Johnson says he’ll have a better idea about yields once he gets fields opened up.  “I’m going to say that the soybean crop is going to be average,” he says. “And I would say that the cotton crop may be more exceptional this year.  The rain that we’ve had since I’ve been gone, is going to impact cotton yields.  And rice yields, as long as it’s still standing, will be a good rice crop.”

Johnson has been on the National Cotton Council’s Producer Information Exchange this week looking at the cotton crop in Texas.