August 26, 2024

 

Arkansas, US expected to break soybean yield record

Arkansas, US is on track to set a record soybean yield this harvest season, according to projections by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Talk Business & Politics reported.

 

Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward indicated that soybeans may not be the only bumper crop for the state this year.

 

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) forecasts a 57-bushel-per-acre yield for soybeans. "Crop-wise, our production has been great, and the weather has cooperated,"

 

Ward also noted that discussions with producers and agricultural sector leaders suggest that other crop yields could approach state record levels.

 

Soybean production is estimated at 172 million bushels, an 8% increase from last year, according to NASS. The harvested acreage is projected to rise by 70,000 acres, reaching 3.02 million from 3.05 million acres planted.

 

Jeremy Ross, extension soybean agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, expressed surprise at the projected yield. "I was very surprised by the projected new state record yield of 57 bushels per acre for 2024," Ross said. "With how early a majority of the soybean crop was planted this year, I anticipated yields similar to or slightly below the 54-bushel-per-acre state average from 2023."

 

Ross noted that Arkansas growers had nearly ideal weather conditions in 2023, leading to a strong harvest. However, drier conditions in July and August of this year may affect the 2024 yield. "The last significant yield bump we saw between two years was in 2016-2017. The average state yield increased from 47 bushels per acre in 2016 to 51 bushels per acre in 2017," he said.

 

Corn production, meanwhile, is forecast to reach 90.2 million bushels, down 41% from last year. Despite the drop in production, yield per acre is expected to average 186 bushels, up three bushels from last year. NASS has revised the planted acres downward by 120,000 acres to 500,000, with harvested acres also expected to fall to 485,000.

 

"Yields look to be really good, with an estimated 186 bushels per acre state average yield," said Jason Kelley, extension wheat and feed grains agronomist. "This is not a record but getting close."

 

Kelley added that north-eastern Arkansas experienced a great growing season, benefiting from an early planting and timely rains that helped reduce irrigation costs. However, southern Arkansas faced challenges due to excessive rainfall during planting.

 

-       Talk Business & Politics