October 6, 2006

 

Varying yields of soy in Arkansas region

 

 

Farmers in southeast Arkansas, US had to save combine fuel on their dryland soy crop this year as they had no crop to harvest due to a dismal season.

 

According to county agents, non-irrigated beans ranged from zero to 35 bushels an acre and most averaged about 20 bushels per acre.

 

This is a far cry from the situation in 2005 and 2004, where dryland soy in many areas of southeast Arkansas 

averaged 40-plus bushels.

 

A cold spell in April, followed by dry, warm weather affected initial growth of the early-planted beans in the state.

 

Some south-east Arkansas farmers are beginning to harvest irrigated soybeans.

 

County agents have reported early yields of 60 to 70 bushels, a favourable number. However, those reports have been few and far between.

 

Irrigated yields overall could be down a little, said Trey Reaper, soybean verification coordinator, Arkansas Extension. He attributed it to high summer temperatures for prolonged periods, which took a toll on the plants.

 

While farmers took care to organise water for their crops, there was nothing they could do about the heat.

 

In contrast, farmers in northeast Arkansas have been harvesting dryland and irrigated soybeans. The yield reports have been favourable as they were more in line with what they ought to be in a decent year.

 

Reaper attributed this to a decent rainfall that the north-east during the growing season. Also, fewer beans were planted in April, meaning they missed the cold snap.

 

The year's statewide average for irrigated and non-irrigated soybeans is estimated to be about 35 bushels, according to the USDA. That's a bushel higher than last year, which was also a lean year.

 

Reaper on the contrary believed the final yield average could be 2 or 3 bushels less than the previous year. The two seasons had been tough on soy farmers.

 

Farmers in the south-east have had their hands full. After struggling with a bad bollworm infestation, farmers in south-east Arkansas were faced with stink bugs in late planted soy.

 

Despite the problems, farmers have continued to grow dryland soybeans in the hope that being a low-input crop, in normal weather, it might cut favourable yields.

 

The soy harvest might have to be wrapped up by mid-November.